Thetownend.com

U18s are at home to Gas U18s tomorrow night in the 1st round of the FA Youth Cup. 7pm kick off at the County Ground, £3 for adults, they're asking for folks to go along and support them, go on it's only 3 quid and what else are you going to be doing on a late October Tuesday?

Going to Whisky Club, 90 miles away.

That's probably reasonable. Be nice if a few more local could make it though, big occasion for some of these lads

Is there a TEF reporter at the match?

1-0 up at HT

Thanks TAFKAA  :)

Losing 3-1 now. Shows why we need this training ground/HQ as only real way the quality of our academy will improve.

The Trust were doing live updates on their Twitter feed.

It was an Islay tasting, lovely.

Bar some historical notion of local lads getting a chance, given the way the game has gone, I'm not sure what value the Academy provides at this level anymore, if it ever really did have one.  You just sit around waiting for the top two divisions youthful discards every pre-season.

Exeter have run their club for the past few years on the back of selling Academy products, as well as producing several to play in their first team.

Agree and it's nothing new. The vast majority don't make it and the miniscule amount that do generally don't last long in the pro game. We'll get the odd one that does well but a new facility won't make much difference if any at all.

Thompson brothers and Jukebox all gone on to have decent careers. And even if they don't make it ultimately, they can still bring in a good return to the club as per my point re Exeter above.
Agree with this, decent players will come through irrespective of facilities on offer although it may make a difference if we're competing with other clubs to sign a promising young player. The new training ground is more of an issue for the first team than the Academy IMO

Wasn't saying it can;t be done, just that if you were making a decision about investing, you have to have a defined return that is more than the other option of not investing.  Does it produce any more talent than taking young kids from other Academies higher up the food chain?  I am not sure it would, for Exeter, and Crewe, there are a good many others that churn out nothing of note.  Mainly because the model further up changed and they just hoover everything up.  I don't doubt you could make it work, it's more whether it's worth it from where we are now.  Even with Crewe, don;t they now have to spend quite a bit on the Academy to retain status - does it really pay off anymore?  Not sure to be honest, but if it was easy, we'd all be doing it.

EPPP puts paid to any great rewards for developing players. Exeter now seem to have a clear pathway to first team football can convince youngsters to stay, at least for their first year or two as a pro.

Continuing an academy is not a smart financial decision any more if you only look at cash.

That's not entirely true. EPPP doesn't mean young players can *never* move for good money, but they may need to make a (fleeting) first team appearance first (e.g. Ampadu going from Exeter to Chelsea). And I think that it also doesn't preclude a higher club agreeing to pay a higher fee than the minimum set down by EPPP e.g. if there are several clubs bidding against each other. Add in the fact that you can develop your own players so you don't need to buy in, or pay higher wages for young players coming in on loan from higher up than you would pay home grown youngsters, and it can still make financial sense. The fact that there hasn't been a flood of clubs following on from Brentford's example in shuttering their Academy in the wake of EPPP would suggest it still makes sense, even at this level.

FWIW, Da Yout bounced back from the Cup defeat by absolutely battering Plymouth 5-1 at the weekend.

Forward Harry Parsons got another two goals in the 5-1 win against Plymouth, to add to his successful penalty during the Youth Cup game.

Going into this weekend's Cheltenham game, there is a scenario where we have to do without one or both of Doyle and Yates, as well as Isgrove and Anderson already being out injured. So won't be surprised to see Parsons make it on to the bench at Whaddon Road. The other option could be to recall first year pro Jacob Bancroft from his loan at Salisbury City and put him on the bench?

Either way, big opportunity from start for Woolery and Twine this weekend it seems? Need them to step up to the mark if we're going to secure a replay or better. At the very least, they'll have a central midfield of Doughty and Lyden (hopefully Grant and Jaiyesimi too?) behind them to offer the supply.