Swindon Town U18 Academy

[DV]

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.

I’ve said it for years but we are extremely poor at getting our young players ‘level below loans’ where as what I referred to it as suggests - getting our young players playing in the divisions below the one we currently reside in.

The only example I can think of, off the top of my head is the obvious one of Scott Twine to Newport. He was getting regular football in a division only one below our level at the time.

Harrison Minturn from what I’ve seen of him strikes me as a young player who would be so much better if he’d had a ‘level below loan’ at any point in the last 3 years.

*I have vague recollection of us loan Sean Morrison to Southend - obviously he young at the time but can’t remember if the loan was because he was still breaking into our first team therefore for his development or whether he was coming back from injury or whether he had a falling out with a manager who soon (probably) left…

[Nemo]

I think the general plan is that they have a good loan at a lower level and then move up. Twine went straight from Chippenham to Newport, which skipped a few levels. Billy Bodin before him had Torquay and I think Crewe?

More recently George Cowmeadow did Slough, Kidlington, Poole and Supermarine, which I wouldn't claim to be able to place them all into divisions it doesn't look like it was moving up much. Minturn did NL North/South a few times, but never NL.

Will be interesting to see if we try and move Jaxon Brown up a division come January.

[Boydy]

If only we had someone who's job role was to generate & nurture relationships with clubs to allow a seamless transition from the youth team to the first team proper via loans at a decent level.

[Peter Venkman]

If only we had someone who's job role was to generate & nurture relationships with clubs to allow a seamless transition from the youth team to the first team proper via loans at a decent level.

Yes like some form of youth loan manager or first-team pathways coach maybe.

[Peter Venkman]

Town currently leading 3-1 at FGR with goals from Obodo, Hutt and Foye with 25 mins to go in the Youth Alliance Cup.

[Nemo]

Ameen not playing so presume he's with the first team.

[Peter Venkman]

Ameen not playing so presume he's with the first team.

I understand he has definately travelled with the 1st team, and rightly so IMO, I would put him above Drinan on Tuesdays game alone, hes mobile, can pick a pass and knows where the net is.

I also havent seen any of our strikers really attack a near post corner as he did for his goal on Tuesday.

[Nomoreheroes]

I understand he has definately travelled with the 1st team, and rightly so IMO, I would put him above Drinan on Tuesdays game alone, hes mobile, can pick a pass and knows where the net is.

I also havent seen any of our strikers really attack a near post corner as he did for his goal on Tuesday.

This - Emphatically so! 👌

[Peter Venkman]

FGR 1-3 Swindon U18 final score.

Onto the next round of the cup again.

[Peter Venkman]

Mark Moss appointed new academy manager to start on 4th November.

https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2024/october/18/mark-moss-appointed-town-s-new-academy-manager-/

[tans]

I went to school with Mark, he was a couple of years below but we had mutual friends and used to have a kickabout. He was a decent keeper back in the day

[Peter Venkman]

Currently (15 mins in) 1-0 up in the Youth Alliance League away at FGR thanks to a George Alston free kick.

[Peter Venkman]

HT currently winning 1-0.

[Peter Venkman]

2-0 to Swindon now (83 mins) Conor Britchford-Stanley.

FT FGR 0-2

[Nemo]

FA Cup run starts tonight - Newport at the County Ground. Moonraker has a nice preview for those who subscribe.