Morning all Thought it would be good to get both sides talking on this http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/250997-Rovers-City-set-to-battle-with-Cardiff-over-young-talent
Both City and Rovers need to demonstrate to young kids (or more accurately their parents) that there is a clear path from signing for the Acadamy and getting into the First Team. This is something that Watford did very well for a number of years - though since the italian take-over that's gone out of the window. If we demonstrate that kids get a chance to develop and play, then it will not matter who has an Acadamy in Yate, Bath, Bedminster or where ever.
Bristol City need to show there is clear identified path from an earlier age than that. Cardiff - Southampton - WBA are taking talented Bristol kids at six and seven and placing them in development centres for traiining. Then at nine the best of the talented Bristol kids are offered places within academies. What matters is that BCFC offer the same opportunity as above. As a parent of a child who is progressing through a player pathway elsewhere it is my opinion they do not. My son played football in BS3, BS4 and BS5. The first club to make contact? WBA. His teamates who have also entered player Pathways - WBA/Southampton. City have to do better earlier. Parents will follow that better.
Then we should open an academy in the valleys. See then how Cardiff and Swansea would feel when the next Gareth Bale signed schoolboy terms for Bristol C. Nothing is sacred any more
I expect Cardiff will start using Bristol kids clubs as feeder clubs for their academy. Get in early with the clubs, offer coaching and fast track any potential kid who might have a chance to Yate. The clubs then will also know exactly who to contact if they have lads appearing later who have not played football at an early age or shown early promise. Its about building up a network in Bristol and around it.
There's a few dotted around. I think there one at Yate International Academy on Tuesday evenings. Southampton scooping up the best ones though I believe. BCFC did manage to develop Jacob Maddox though but he ended up signing for Chelsea just before he played for England U16s - gutted!
As far as I'm aware there is some set up for City in Wales somewhere. Plus i seen a comment regarding kids young at 6 and 7. My mate whose son now is in the Cardiff schools used to be playing for City a few years back and he's about 9 now, I will double check but I think there is set ups for them that young. Don't quote me on it but I will check.
Yes add Knowle and Keynsham, but that is the Community Trust coaching kids and it costs parents money. It is not an equivalent of what Southampton and WBA are doing, which is offered for free to the more able kids of six and up. There is and was a void and it has been filled by alien clubs. City need to get broader and increase their reach even in Bristol. A story ... "Mr X your Son has talent, he takes on board what the coaches say to him, and is exactly what our City academy will be looking for if he keeps working as hard as he does till he is nine." Another club offered quality coaching twice a week well before that kid reached nine. Outcome is potential goes elsewhere.
Some young players eg oxlade-chamberlain, David Cotterill, Luke Freeman, get poached by the bigger clubs only to be released and play at lower levels than if played at a lower level to start off with.
