Lincoln Youth Development

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Lincoln Official Site

Youth Development Board Update
Posted on: Fri 18 Dec 2009

The Youth Development Board held its monthly meeting earlier this week.

Chairman Chris Travers opened the meeting by welcoming two new members: Dan Hadfield, Schools & Colleges Liaison Officer at Lincoln University, and Mark Wilson.

The University has close ties with the club through sponsorship of the away shirt and with the Youth Development Board through a number of activities, including student Daniel Mooney writing player profiles and match reports for the website. Mark is a life-long City supporter with an excellent knowledge of the local football scene and many contacts which have already brought significant extra sponsorship into the Youth Programme.

Over the years Mark has recommended a number of players to the Club who have gone on to secure Centre of Excellence contracts. He is also a Mid Lincs County Youth Football League committee member which provides an opportunity to build on existing relations between the two organisations.

Chris went on to outline plans to restructure the Youth Department. At a time when there is ever-increasing administrative and legislative responsibilities the YDB believes it is important to have strong systems and processes in place, a successful education programme and excellent player well-being. Head of Youth Tom Spall will focus in these areas and will also look at potential re-structuring of the Centre of Excellence to build on existing good practices. Grant Brown will remain as Tom's deputy but will now have sole responsibility for Youth Team management.

On the playing side Tom and Grant provided the YDB with mid-year assessments of the Scholars' progress and updated them on an application for external funding to support a pre-season tour. They also said nominations are due for the Football League Education's 'Apprentice of the Year'. In the past Danny Hone reached the final three and it is hoped that this year's nominee will do equally as well.

The recent prolonged wet weather has meant training at Carlton Boulevard being suspended. The YDB discussed a number of possible alternative venues and will continue their search. Grant said he had been pleased with recent Youth Team performances despite two narrow defeats. Against both Rotherham and York the work rate of the players had been excellent and in the Rotherham game a large number of good chances were carved out but unfortunately not finished.

Grant said that in addition to Reece Thompson, Karl Cunningham and Sam Downey a further three Scholarships have been awarded for next season. Louth-based goalkeeper Nick Draper and centre backs Tom Thacker and Elliott Green have all accepted contracts for the 20010/11 season. The YDB said it was pleasing to see that five of the boys have been with the Club's Centre of Excellence for several years.

Grant added that opportunities are being explored to send some of the second year Scholars out on loan or work experience to continue their development. Midfielder Lee Bennett will be joining Harrogate Town and further deals will hopefully be put in place in the next week or two.

Roger Bates

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