Another "academy" signing?

Insider

Insider

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So says the headline on BFC Academy Twitter.
Cameron Hill from Salford City, age 19.
But this is another signing on professional terms so I'm a bit confused.
Are we going to have an u/23 squad?
 
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Considering Critchley made his name with an u23 squad, it would make sense for us to have one.

Maybe it’s the next step in trying to develop our own talent, wether it’ll be effective or not, we’ll have to see.

Anyone know anything about him?
 
I see that Gareth Seddon is representing Cameron.
He was at Bury's academy but moved on to Salford. He's described as a mid-fielder.
 
Insider said:
I see that Gareth Seddon is representing Cameron.
He was at Bury's academy but moved on to Salford. He's described as a mid-fielder.
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Just going to mention Gaz Seddon. He works under the umbrella of Base soccer, we’d previously only sourced players from Elite management. Interesting to see we re casting our net wide and the clubs no longer a pariah with agents it seems.
 
Insider said:
Gareth is a regular at BFC (and probably many other) u/18 matches.
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I think he looks after Base Soccer’s northern based youth players.
He sorted a lad I knew a transfer to Blackburn a few weeks ago. He was Prestons best youth team player.
They have quiet a strange portfolio of players on their books BaseSoccer, under 18s, young players in Europe’s B leagues and a fair few woman players.
 
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Also bit odd we’ve put nothing out on social media about the signing.
 
Ah don’t do Twitter.

So it looks like he’s a youth team player on a pro contract? Seems odd
 
Rektseasider said:
Ah don’t do Twitter.

So it looks like he’s a youth team player on a pro contract? Seems odd
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We have of course just signed Bradley Holmes on a professional contract at 17 but he can play for the u/18s still because of his age.
Hall is 19 so wont be eligible assuming the online stuff about age etc is correct.
 
I've had a bit of a look round the web and found a picture of Cameron signing a 2 year scholarship with Salford City in June 2019.
So perhaps he is still a "2nd year" and will be eligible to play for u/18s next season.
We look to be building a bit of squad.
#5 for 25
 
The Academy is announcing another signing this afternoon.
I know this doesn't raise a lot of interest on the Board but these are the potential building blocks for the future of our Club.
There's a definite seed change!!
If the the wage cap does come in we could be seeing a lot more u/21s in the first team squad as early as season 2021/22.
We now have 2 academy players on professional contracts.
I think this is indicative of Simon Sadler s vision and the Neil Critchley factor.
We do still need to look after them of course when they graduate from the U/18s and I'm wondering if we will have to wait for the new training ground before this happens.
All very positive though, IMO of course. 😃
#5for25.
 
Saying they’ve “ got a busy week ahead “ as well.

More signings I wonder? Or something more long term?
 
Insider said:
The Academy is announcing another signing this afternoon.
I know this doesn't raise a lot of interest on the Board but these are the potential building blocks for the future of our Club.
There's a definite seed change!!
If the the wage cap does come in we could be seeing a lot more u/21s in the first team squad as early as season 2021/22.
We now have 2 academy players on professional contracts.
I think this is indicative of Simon Sadler s vision and the Neil Critchley factor.
We do still need to look after them of course when they graduate from the U/18s and I'm wondering if we will have to wait for the new training ground before this happens.
All very positive though, IMO of course. 😃
#5for25.
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I wonder if we’re going, at least in part, for the Brentford strategy of trying to pick up the best players who’ve been edged out at other/bigger clubs?

Personally I think that, as a ‘town’ team rather than a team from a bit of London, we also need to offer a pathway for young players from Blackpool and surrounding areas ... but it feels like the Brentford way could be a good supplement to that?
 
I'm really encouraged by this. For God knows how long, our best youth players have been picked off by other clubs, with the rest having no clear path to progress their careers.

It looks like we're developing a pool of young talent with the intention and hope that some will graduate to the first team squad.
And not waiting for the training ground to be up & running before we do it. An U21 squad can train at somewhere other than Squires Gate in the short term, it's not ideal but it's better than hanging fire until an "all in one" TG is operational.

As Insy says, this could be a very wise move given the upcoming wage cap and the requirement to have at least one home-grown player in a matchday squad (I wouldn't be surprised to see this increased at some stage).

We're in good hands.
 
His age in immaterial? There are plenty of 19 y. olds in the football league, even the EPL have one or two.
 
Perhaps Saddler's strategy is to buy youth with potential with the plan that Critchley can turn the odd one or two into class acts with big sell-on fees.
 
Somewhat interesting to see he’s best mates with Max Aarons of Norwich. Aarons being linked with tens of million pound moves abroad.
 
MK Dons have a great stadium but interestingly do not have a proper training ground and share a public facility. They had a very over ambitious plan at the bowl which was really more about Winklemans ego. They do have a good youth set up and this boy was highly rated so a good catch.
 
The big question is where will that half way line be?
I can see a return to Squires Gate unless you know better
 
1966_and_all_that said:
Perhaps Saddler's strategy is to buy youth with potential with the plan that Critchley can turn the odd one or two into class acts with big sell-on fees.
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1966, that makes sense, it also proves that SS intends to take the club to the next level.
Can't wait for the season to start.
Having said that, I'll probably be in France for the first few games, depending on what date it starts. 🙄
 
Nuttalls Mint Toes said:
@Insider - if the Academy is improving in this way and start to build a following - are you going to lose your position on the halfway line of every game 🤯
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Nutts: Are you a frequent spectator at Youth team games?
I'm hoping the new academy will have a stand named after me with heated seats for Mrs Insider and myself.
 
You only have to look at the £26m Birmingham are getting for Jude Bellingham and running a decent academy makes perfect sense.
There would also be a market for attending youth games and for the youth talent that went to Utd, City, Bolton and Rovers to start coming here.
I would hate to imagine the talent Blackpool lost out on because the O's were blind to what was in-front of them....

I think these youth signings just show whats possible under SS
 
I’m really impressed with all this Academy activity. It’s great that we are able to pick talent from all around the country and persuade them that Blackpool is the club to develop that talent. Absolutely fantastic. We’ve chosen well with Neil Critchley.
 
God knows I might have lost count, but I think that's our 12th recent youth signing.
Looks like we're really trying to raise the standard of the U18 squad, maybe the club could release a statement / video on what their plans, vision & ambition are.
 
Insider said:
Been busy all day educating my 13 month grandson on all things Tangerine. Thank you to my acolytes for keeping the board up to date with the new signings. I'm really pleased interest is building.
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Would you do a post a day or two before each game in the coming season,
So people like me with some free time on their hands can go and support them too, please.
 
First thing I don't know where the u/18s will be playing next season although I suspect they might be back to Squires Gate. There was a fixture list published on the official site last season but its quite often subject to last minute changes so BFC social media is your best bet. I had a moan to the Club how poor that was early on last season and it did improve. Judging by what's being put out on the Academy's twitter currently hopefully we'll get a lot more information.
I will however put something on the Board for those that don't do twitter.
#5for25.
PS.
I'm hoping there won't be any "Covid" restrictions on watching Youth football so once it gets the go ahead we may be able to start watching.
 
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TangerinePreston said:
It’s a shame that they haven’t really said anything about where they’re from to gauge their pedigree.
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mclfoot.blogspot.com

Will the kids be alright?

In my last blog I pontificated about the difference between youth development under Neil Critchley and Simon Sadler and the same thing under...
mclfoot.blogspot.com mclfoot.blogspot.com

I've done my best to search as much as I could find about them...
 
So those slightly older ones, aged 18/ 19 signed on professionsl terms, where do they fit in and play?
 
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