Swindon Town U18 Academy

[Peter Venkman]

I think that after their great cup run last season it would be good to have a thread just for the youths.

Town currently (05/10/24) sit in 11th place in the Youth Alliance League, just below FGR and Cheltenham and just above Stevenage and Northampton.

D Stevenage 3-3 Swindon (Foye, Stewart x2)
L Swindon 1-2 Luton (Alston)
W Swindon 3-0 Walsall (youth alliance cup) (Ameen x2, Gonzales)
W Cardiff 1-5 Swindon (professional development league cup) (Alston x3, Ameen, Obodo)
D AFC Wimbledon 2-2 Swindon (Obodo, Gonzales)
L Swindon 1- 3 Gillingham (Gonzales)
W Oxford 1-3 Swindon (youth alliance cup) (Alston, Obodo x2)
W Cambridge 1-3 Swindon (Kanu, Ameen, Alston)
W Swindon 3-0 Northampton (Gonzales, McCormack, Terry)
L Swindon 2-3 Portsmouth (Ameen, Alston)
W FGR 1-3 Swindon (youth alliance cup) (Obodo, Hutt, Foye)
W FGR 0-2 Swindon (youth alliance league cup) Alston, Britchford-Stanley

Top Scorers
Alston 8
Ameen  5
Gonzales 4
Obodo 4
Stewart 2
McCormack 1
Kanu 1
Foy 1
Terry 1
Britchford-Stanley 1

[The Professor]

Hey, time that the Academy got more publicity. Last season, the Youth Cup run was one of the few high points for those of us who follow the Town from outside Wiltshire. The game at the County Ground against a Manchester United side that were carrying all before them in the league was a joy to behold. Incredibly, the result was deserved and let's hope for a similar run this time. I am pleased to see that the Academy game highlights are being shown more regularly on YouTube.

[Bob's Orange]

Adam Hart's cockney kids coming good.

All joking aside we do seem to have a great crop of talented kids at that age group. Is this the 'golden generation' for us?

[Peter Venkman]

All joking aside we do seem to have a great crop of talented kids at that age group. Is this the 'golden generation' for us?

I was discussing this very same thing (with the same terminology) with a fellow TEFer on Tuesday, the last time we got to the semi finals of the youth cup was in 1964 when we had a great team of youngsters coming through.

I know times are different now and young talent will be sold off rather than putting into the first team regularly but we have some great talent in Ameen, McGregor, Brown, Gonzales, Alston, Obodo, Hart and the recently sold Hunt to Boro. Even Minturn is only 20.

I don't ever remember in the last 50 years or so that I have been going that we have had more than 1 good prospect youngster coming through the ranks at any one time.

[UTR]

I was discussing this very same thing (with the same terminology) with a fellow TEFer on Tuesday, the last time we got to the semi finals of the youth cup was in 1964 when we had a great team of youngsters coming through.

I know times are different now and young talent will be sold off rather than putting into the first team regularly but we have some great talent in Ameen, McGregor, Brown, Gonzales, Alston, Obodo, Hart and the recently sold Hunt to Boro. Even Minturn is only 20.

I don't ever remember in the last 50 years or so that I have been going that we have had more than 1 good prospect youngster coming through the ranks at any one time.

What year was it that we gave out something like 5/6 pro deals to one crop of under 18’s and almost all were gone within a year?

[Nemo]

What year was it that we gave out something like 5/6 pro deals to one crop of under 18’s and almost all were gone within a year?

Fitton gave the entire academy year deals once. Think that was 2008, Callum Kennedy, Lloyd Macklin, Nathan Thompson. Maybe Billy Bodin too?

[tans]

Adam Hart's cockney kids coming good.

All joking aside we do seem to have a great crop of talented kids at that age group. Is this the 'golden generation' for us?

No, because the management wont play the vast majority of them unless its the Efl trophy.

Plus any decent ones, they’ll fucking sell them first hand for fiver.

[UTR]

Fitton gave the entire academy year deals once. Think that was 2008, Callum Kennedy, Lloyd Macklin, Nathan Thompson. Maybe Billy Bodin too?

Ah no I had a dig and I was thinking about 2013 when Alex Ferguson, Mark Francis, Aaron Oakley, Louis Thompson and Connor Waldon were offered deals.

[Batch]

What year was it that we gave out something like 5/6 pro deals to one crop of under 18’s and almost all were gone within a year?

I think that's the key. Tempered optimism. As we've seen so many just about break info the fist team but not quite make it.

This time could be different. We all hope it is and the signs are good.

Tans raises a point, I don't think its STFC exclusive. Can we afford to develop them in the fist team at the expense of a quick buck. Also can't hold a good player back if they want to go.

[DV]

Fitton gave the entire academy year deals once. Think that was 2008, Callum Kennedy, Lloyd Macklin, Nathan Thompson. Maybe Billy Bodin too?

Chris Allen, Sam Morris, Kurt Hammond?

[Nemo]

You could have given me a lot of guesses before I'd got Sam Morris.

[DV]

Ben Joyce, Jake Hyde as well.

I was on early shifts back then so often finished & went to the CG to watch the youth/reserve games when they were on.

[theakston2k]

Plus any decent ones, they’ll fucking sell them first hand for fiver.

Doubtful the club would even get much of that fiver. Individuals who we are always told are nothing to with the club will want their cut and will probably pressure for some to be sold as a result.

[CMT82]

No reserve league, but would love to see Monday night friendlies once a month at The CG.

Free ST/low fee entry - game time for those coming back from injury and youth team players needing more competition.

Worked all those years ago with the Combination and can't be THAT hard to organise surely.

[Boydy]

The loss of reserve team football can't help with bringing kids through.

If you can't get a decent level loan for them there's not much chance to develop into first team ready players.

Jaxon Brown for example seems to be flying at Canvey Island. If his talent means he's that much better than the players around him he's really not gaining any insight into the physical side of playing men's football.
So what exactly does he gain from a loan at the same level of the pyramid as Melksham, who the youth team regularly comfortably beat each pre-season?

I'm not saying they're all as ready as McGregor is  but he's certainly gained far more training with the first team the last few months than if he was off playing for Supermarine in that time.