No doubt, like other supporters, possibly even up and down the country, I have wondered what is the secret to the almost converyor belt like success of the Saints Academy. What do we do that's so different..? Here's an article, written in April of this year,[so OXO was still with us] which gives us just a bit of a peep into how it is done. I believe that there's no rocket science here, just good procedures and habits. And just recently, a whole big chunk of extra money. It acknowledges the Youth System before the Academy started, through mentioning Matty and Shearer. And just maybe, I'll cut Lowe a wee bit of slack from now on, seeing as he's gone. Some may have read it before, but it got under my radar, and so it might have been missed by others too. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. http://www.sport.co.uk/features/Foo...secret_behind_Southamptons_youth_academy.aspx
Saints have a good academy with some good players coming, but in the sixties Burnley were bringing through about six a season. Wenger would have been camped out there.
Ralph Coates, our very own Brian O'Niell, Leighton James thats three off the top of my head. Martin Dobson might have been another but I would have to check that one out. We should also not forget just how good Crewe are at developing talent as well.
Blimey, I remember those names. Martin Dobson was a Burnley prospect, IIRC. I'm not saying we shouldn't remember that other teams have always produced good players. Burnley, Crewe Alexandra, among them. They've done it on shoestring budgets and I'm certainly not knocking them. Saints were also a club with a great Youth side and tradition. Terry Paine and Mick Channon are just two standouts from the 50-60's, but there were plenty more. Saints are moving the yardstick forward, and have been doing it for quite a few years now. And they're moving it forward again. So when Frenchvic talks about Saints having a good academy now, but Burnley had a good one in the 60's, well that's another subject for a thread, with all due respect. We're talking about the Saints Academy and how it is moving the standards forward now.
