Is the Youth Team a false dawn?

BFC76

Well-known member
We seemed to have been in this position many times before when we have had a brilliant youth set up only to see very little come through to the First Team. I know everyone talks about the importance of a Youth Academy and how it will replenish the first team but will that ever come to fruition or will we always be in a position where we lose the likes of Tony Weston to Rangers for next to nout?

Also, as an aside, the fact we're doing so well does it mean all of Pilley's investments in his academy and facilities have failed?
 
We seemed to have been in this position many times before when we have had a brilliant youth set up only to see very little come through to the First Team. I know everyone talks about the importance of a Youth Academy and how it will replenish the first team but will that ever come to fruition or will we always be in a position where we lose the likes of Tony Weston to Rangers for next to nout?

Also, as an aside, the fact we're doing so well does it mean all of Pilley's investments in his academy and facilities have failed?
There's a world of difference because Simon's first meeting with the fans spelt out the importance of building a structure whereby we bring our own players through. Previously no thought was given to that at all.
 
We seemed to have been in this position many times before when we have had a brilliant youth set up only to see very little come through to the First Team. I know everyone talks about the importance of a Youth Academy and how it will replenish the first team but will that ever come to fruition or will we always be in a position where we lose the likes of Tony Weston to Rangers for next to nout?

Also, as an aside, the fact we're doing so well does it mean all of Pilley's investments in his academy and facilities have failed?

Fleetwood's youth team are in pretty good shape as well. I think the problem is the lack of facilities, and until we built the proper infrastructure we will continue to lose the best of them to other clubs.
 
Don't know about a brilliant set up, but the owner has invested in young talent this season. We don't know if
any of them will make the grade. They are certainly producing good results. The level of focus is much more intense
than in my day for these lads. At 17/18 years old, how they mature will decide how far they go. A lot of very good
footballers at this age have failed to make the grade, lets hope most of them come through.
 
Blackpool over the years have brought a few players through the Youth system.
Both Trevor Sinclair and Paul Stewart went for transfer record fees, and became England international.

Alan Wright as well went for a record fee.

But some have done ok for themselves after getting released, so they must be doing something right in the Academy over the years in both coaching and recruitment.

Danny Coid, John Hills 2 great full backs.

Dion Charles (doing well for Accy)

Barkhuizen (doing well for them down the road.
Dom Telford and the other lad Cameron? went for fees to Stoke.
Harrison Mcghahey went to Sheff United for a compensation fee.

Plenty of others have gone onto have a decent footballing careers.

So despite lack of investment a few have come through over the years to make a decent career.
 
Last edited:
Blackpool over the years have brought a few players through the Youth system.
Both Trevor Sinclair and Paul Stewart went for transfer record fees, and became England international.

Alan Wright as well went for a record fee.

But some have done ok for themselves after getting released, so they must be doing something right in the Academy over the years in both coaching and recruitment.

Danny Coid, John Hills 2 great full backs.

Dion Charles (doing well for Accy)

Barkhuizen (doing well for them down the road.
Dom Telford and the other lad Cameron? went for fees to Stoke.
Harrison Mcghahey went to Sheff United for a compensation fee.

Plenty of others have gone onto have a decent footballing careers.

So despite lack of investment a few have come through over the years to make a decent career.
Did Bright Samuel come through the youth ranks?
 
Throw Rickie Lambert into the mix as well, from his post Liverpool time.

We sometimes seem to let talent go too early.
(I know Koko did a cash grab wherever possible.)

Now we have Sadler as owner, I’d like to see some of these lads given short 1st team appearances to ease them into the main squad
 
Yes Bright Samuel did come through the youth, so plenty of talent identified or recruited.

And Lambert became an international as well, scored on debut against Scotland with his first touch.
And big transfer fees galore.
 
The current crop of youngsters do look promising, with Simon Sadler at the helm I'm sure some will come
through to our 1st team in the next couple of years.
 
Its not a false dawn

But you have to remember we are playing shite clubs like Accy, Cods and the Nobbers

You can only beat whats in front of you granted

But clubs like Wigan, Blackburn and Burnley all have far better academies and play in a higher league
 
Anyone know what’s happening with the new training ground and academy? There was lots going on until the pandemic hit, with the club saying they’d identified potential sites etc. I can’t see why the pandemic should have stopped that other than financial and if that’s the case, will it ever materialise, and if so when?
 
Think I raised this question a couple of weeks ago. Youth team is doing very well but quite a few of the players have been picked up from other clubs or come up from an academy in London. That’s all good and hopefully it can continue, but I’m wondering what kind of a pipeline of our own we’re developing?
 
Its not a false dawn

But you have to remember we are playing shite clubs like Accy, Cods and the Nobbers

You can only beat whats in front of you granted

But clubs like Wigan, Blackburn and Burnley all have far better academies and play in a higher league
Wigan have sold some of their academy infrastructure I think. I wouldn't bet in them retaining their current status as if it's not nailed down it's being sold or let go.
 
Think I raised this question a couple of weeks ago. Youth team is doing very well but quite a few of the players have been picked up from other clubs or come up from an academy in London. That’s all good and hopefully it can continue, but I’m wondering what kind of a pipeline of our own we’re developing?
There's certainly a few of the players who local lads, including Holmes. That model of picking up from non club based academies is sadly, probably part of the way you have to go these days.

The big prem clubs take them globally, we've got to look nationally...
 
Didn't realise how much talent has come through that academy over the years, with basic training facilities.
3 future England international's have come from that, It would be nice to nurture a few through to the first team and see them progress up the league with Blackpool.

The sad thing is that 5 out of 6 stop playing professional football by 21.
 
Anyone know what’s happening with the new training ground and academy? There was lots going on until the pandemic hit, with the club saying they’d identified potential sites etc. I can’t see why the pandemic should have stopped that other than financial and if that’s the case, will it ever materialise, and if so when?
I know the plans are ready and approved.
They had a few choices over location. I believe the preferred location had things to resolve first. It’s hush hush. 🤐
I’m sure Covid hasn’t helped either. Massive backlogs all round, including key professional services not available, Council / planning depts etc.
A good question to ask Simon...
 
It was asked tonight. Up to £12 million earmarked for the development. Stanley Park will be the interim venue for next season's u18 games after an upgrade. Games will be live streamed for insider's benefit. It will be good to watch a game then go down the Armfield Club for a pre match pint.
 
It was asked tonight. Up to £12 million earmarked for the development. Stanley Park will be the interim venue for next season's u18 games after an upgrade. Games will be live streamed for insider's benefit. It will be good to watch a game then go down the Armfield Club for a pre match pint.
Stanley Park Golf club as the new training ground now that would stir things up. 😃
 
Given the way all the Prem clubs within an hour of Blackpool hoover up nearly all of the local youth talent, or we lose a Tony Weston for a pittance, isn't there a case for scrapping the academy like Brentford did with theirs? Or concentrating on recruiting older academy players released from the Prem academies, as we did with Cameron Antwi from Fulham?
 
Given the way all the Prem clubs within an hour of Blackpool hoover up nearly all of the local youth talent, or we lose a Tony Weston for a pittance, isn't there a case for scrapping the academy like Brentford did with theirs? Or concentrating on recruiting older academy players released from the Prem academies, as we did with Cameron Antwi from Fulham?
All it takes is one player to move on to better things every couple of years and it pays for itself.

If we get back to the Championship all you need to do is get 1 player coming up through the academy every couple of seasons and then moving on to a biggish club in the UK or abroad. Had Ben Davies at PNE had an extra 12 months on his contract PNE would have got £5 Million plus. Had Bright Samuel had an extra 12 months on his it would have been the same if not more (yes i'm aware he was at QPR at this point) but it is surely proof that these non premier league academies can still produce quality players... as both Ben and Bright came through the academies at PNE and Blackpool (neither of which are exactly world class!)

The club are aiming to be best in class at whatever level they operate. Currently we're a Level 3 academy and our lads have won 11 games on the trot... that in less than 6 months of the new head of academy being brought in and whilst still playing out of the town at a farming college...

Now imagine 2/3 years down the line when the club have built up their reputation again, when they have a fit for purpose facility (be it the Stanley Park Oval or maybe the newly built £12 million facility somewhere on the Fylde coast) and we're a Level 2 or maybe even a Level 1 academy ?... If the club at that time are in the Championship playing attractive football under a manager with a reputation for developing the worlds best young players at one of the worlds biggest clubs...

All of a sudden just one stand out youngster who scores a few goals in the Championship becomes the next Jude Bellingham and earns the club £20 million and all the investment is paid for twice over.
 
Given the way all the Prem clubs within an hour of Blackpool hoover up nearly all of the local youth talent, or we lose a Tony Weston for a pittance, isn't there a case for scrapping the academy like Brentford did with theirs? Or concentrating on recruiting older academy players released from the Prem academies, as we did with Cameron Antwi from Fulham?
I've wondered this, but i'm not close enough to the situation to judge really. We have obviously been unable to attract the best kids for many years, so we are more likely to succeed by taking on the best released kids from the big academies, I would imagine. But I always remember Tricky T saying he chose us cos he would get game time and that's what he told the other England lads at Lilleshall from the big clubs - I'm in the first team playing proper matches - and it worked. Once we have good facilities we can build a reputation for good coaching and good opportunities and that will attract better quality. But the Critchley reputation and Sadler cash seem to have already taken us up a notch or two.
 
All it takes is one player to move on to better things every couple of years and it pays for itself.

If we get back to the Championship all you need to do is get 1 player coming up through the academy every couple of seasons and then moving on to a biggish club in the UK or abroad. Had Ben Davies at PNE had an extra 12 months on his contract PNE would have got £5 Million plus. Had Bright Samuel had an extra 12 months on his it would have been the same if not more (yes i'm aware he was at QPR at this point) but it is surely proof that these non premier league academies can still produce quality players... as both Ben and Bright came through the academies at PNE and Blackpool (neither of which are exactly world class!)

The club are aiming to be best in class at whatever level they operate. Currently we're a Level 3 academy and our lads have won 11 games on the trot... that in less than 6 months of the new head of academy being brought in and whilst still playing out of the town at a farming college...

Now imagine 2/3 years down the line when the club have built up their reputation again, when they have a fit for purpose facility (be it the Stanley Park Oval or maybe the newly built £12 million facility somewhere on the Fylde coast) and we're a Level 2 or maybe even a Level 1 academy ?... If the club at that time are in the Championship playing attractive football under a manager with a reputation for developing the worlds best young players at one of the worlds biggest clubs...

All of a sudden just one stand out youngster who scores a few goals in the Championship becomes the next Jude Bellingham and earns the club £20 million and all the investment is paid for twice over.
The current strategy is to be the best at Category 3, develop Stanley Park to be fit for purpose for next season, then once the new facility is in place switch to the new training ground ans aim for Level 2. This got a mention last night.
 
The current strategy is to be the best at Category 3, develop Stanley Park to be fit for purpose for next season, then once the new facility is in place switch to the new training ground ans aim for Level 2. This got a mention last night.
Is level 2 as far as we can realistically go?
 
Is level 2 as far as we can realistically go?
I think we need an indoor pitch to be any higher than Level 2. But there’s also spending commitments and I think a level 1 academy is a very large outlay on top of the infrastructure - hence why there’s not really any Level 1 academies outside of the Championship
 
Critch has been around acadamies and youth teams for a long time.... Gotta be a bonus. I think with Saddlers support and Critchs knowhow the youth will go from strength to strength.
 
I think we need an indoor pitch to be any higher than Level 2. But there’s also spending commitments and I think a level 1 academy is a very large outlay on top of the infrastructure - hence why there’s not really any Level 1 academies outside of the Championship
As far as I’m aware, our new TG will be at least an equal if not better than Cod’s Poolfoot
 
As far as I’m aware, our new TG will be at least an equal if not better than Cod’s Poolfoot
Poolfoot cost between £6 and £8 million to put together (and they do have a habit of over egging what they do and spend tbf... recent signing of a player released by their club was called an ‘undisclosed fee’ 🤣) whilst we’re budgeting £12 million and that’s on top of the money spent at Squires Gate and Stanley Park in the meantime.

For reference Derby recently built a full size indoor pitch, associated changing facilities, and cafe bar at their training complex. That alone cost £5 million and is incredibly impressive. Take a look at Moor Farm (Derby) online and you’ll get an idea of the sort of facility we’re likely going to get for the proposed budget.

Likely Cat 1 facilities going off what I’ve seen.
 
Back
Top