"Versatile Eastleigh boy proved equally adept across midfield and at right-back. A very intelligent player with good positional sense and timing. Netted five goals over the course of the season, including a fine individual effort against Tottenham. Also scored in the enthralling 4-2 win over Man United in February. Flannigan stands a very good chance of being offered a professional deal next season. The player will be looking to force his way into the U21 setup."
Josh Sims, who only started his scholarship this week, has also been offered a pro contract. Exciting!
Success breeds success. Our academy has an excellent reputation and having Bale, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shaw and Dyer plying their trade in the Preimership is a great advert for the Southampton Academy.
We all love winning cups (so why do we support Saints) and got excited when we thought had won the whole tournament, but the head of the Academy said recently that it isn't the most important thing. He admitted that they don't always put out their best team in the u18 League. He said that they will play someone who isn't ready if it is good for his development. The main target is bringing them through for the 1st team. This is probably reflected by us putting 2 teams into this tournament...doing the best for all of them.
A friend of mine plays in one of the Bristol academies, not sure whether its City or Rovers, but he said he once played them at u14 level, and Saints team were mainly 12 year olds. That might sound strange, but it was because their youth teams are all so good, most of them play an age group up haha!
