It has been a busy period for our Academy sides who have enjoyed several pro club fixtures.
In recent weeks, we have played Fleetwood Town, Crewe, Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Kidderminster, Wolves and Cheltenham Town.
This weekend coming, we travel to Preston North End, and next week we look forward to festivals at Stoke City. Still to come this month are Macclesfield and Huddersfield Town.
The pre-season season period is a good opportunity for us to play a variety of clubs and expose our young Saints to different challenges. Each game has provided us with different returns.
Games against Cat 1 and 2 clubs have been tough, as the lads have not had the ball as much as they are used to. Defensively, we have been up against some really talented individuals. In possession, the intensity has had to be much quicker. We have been able to stretch everyone and take them out of their comfort zones.
In other games, such as Cheltenham Town, we played up an age group, so this was a different type of challenge, more physical.
Commenting on our pre-season fixture schedule, Academy Manager Kieran Lee-Birch said: “During this summer period we are trying to provide our lads with lots of different opportunities and challenges.
“We have played against some fantastic players and visited outstanding facilities. Whilst we enjoy and are proud to be part of the Welsh Academi System, it is nice to play different teams and travel to new places.
“The aim this season is for every age group to play over 45 games. Within this we need games where our opponent is going to really test us defensively, we also need games where we will have more of the ball to focus on in possession returns. We also like to play games against older sides to provide physical challenges.
“Variety in format is also important, this season the FAW have introduced dribble, and 3v3 festivals. After an initial regional league, the U12-16s will play in a national league. We welcome these positive changes.”
After a quieter programme over the summer, all of our U8-16 age groups return to a full programme on Monday, which we are all looking forward to.
