Team of Eleven Local Lads

Chris Hargreaves is now working as a scout in the area for Brighton.

In the mid 1960's Rovers had what was called the South Wales Nursery. They recruited and developed a number of very good young players from the area including Frankie Prince, Wayne Jones, David Williams, a goalkeeper called Thomas etc.

Unfortunately for us at acadamy age they get picked up by everyone apart from us. Tbf as a youngster and Saints, City, Gas look to pick you up. You probably choose in that order.

However there are plenty of decent lads at 16,17,18 that have been through those academies plying their trade at local Toolstation, Southern league, Conf South.

Plenty have been missed or have got quicker or more physical or just better football IQ since leaving u16, u18 even u23. Difference is they have actually played mens football for a few seasons, rather than age related football forever.

Plenty given the chance that should be able to walk into our first team.

No reason we as a club should choose to hamper ourselves, so it's a no from me - but it does bring us to one of the most crucial problems in the English game - the academy system, the big clubs hoarding talent and the loan system.


The current 'path' of any local youngster with any sign of talent seems to work like this - they are identified by either a scout or a coach/official in whatever youth system they play in. They get sucked into one of the local academies - funded primarily by the Premier League under the wider plan of improving the standard of players who reach the national team - and in terms of that goal, we may be seeing positive results starting to come through.


But if does nothing for the 99.94% of players in the system who will never play a minute in the Premier League, let alone the national team - the big clubs spend their money wasting that talent   once they reach 18 they are either spat out of the system or hoarded by the biggest clubs *just in case* they develop further over the next 4-5 years - a series of loans (that may or may not benefit the player or the club they are loaned to) which I've never seen anyone seriously claim is actually good for their development.


If we (or any other League One/Two club) want to make a statement over getting better players younger, we should look at getting together to change the rules - at the moment the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) is designed to make it cheaper for the bigger clubs to get the promising young players - yet what they actually pay into the system is a tiny fraction of what they will spend each and every summer on a big name transfer fee - let alone the weekly wages that follow it.


Off the top of my head, some changes could/should be:


An absolute limit on the number of professional players at any senior club. Not the same for each club, it could be worked out on the basis of how many 'squads' they have and how many games each team they will put out will play over a season - but any sensible calculation would mean the big clubs have too many youth players on their books, something we all know is true.


They will then have to loan them out as they do now - but every loan agreement should include a buy-out and a buy-back clause. If John Smith is loaned to us from Chelsea in August through to December, based on the contract he has with them there should be a fixed rate we could agree to buy him for - if the player also agrees obviously. The big clubs won't like that so to keep them happy there could also be a buy-back clause for the next 2-3 years, again based on a ratio of the previous deal and the player agreeing.


Other than a slightly bigger financial hit for the bigger clubs I can't see how anyone loses out. The players still go out on loan as they do now but if they find a good fit they will have the chance to play more competitive football in a setting they enjoy. If they continue to develop to a really high level the 'parent club' still has first option to buy them back.


The only problem is getting the changes agreed to...

I was thinking this. Athletic are my team in Spain and yes what a great model they have, admittedly paying a premium to sign players born in the Basque country who slip through their net and go to another club, but Bilbao is a one team major city with a premiership set up and fan base. You don't see many Madrid or Barcelona shirts there .... lol  

Never happen with the local lads. Just not enough scouts or the gas willing to invest time/money in looking for those forgotten or missed players.

Thousands are playing so I get it would take a lot of man hours to get around.

However, there is something called fa full time website that would at least give someone a starting point for scouts. I’d be amazed if we are not using this or similar before sending a scout in a car to watch. Perhaps we are and this is old hat and much better more sophisticated systems are in place with us.

To many mates helping mates, or pretend agents at our level. Some great coaches out there though, I’m guessing the money is crap.

Suppose supply and demand, working your way through Step 4,5,6 at a young age playing mens football at 16,17,18 even 21,22. Is great but not if anyone isn’t watching.

Unless of course you are on 100 billion at a Prem team and never have to kick a ball for the rest of your career.

Fair play, no argument from me. You are very correct.

Forgot Cameron Hargreaves Kings Lynn I think. He had a very successful career with the Gas. Oh wait wasn’t that something to do with a certain CH and TW. But I’m splitting hairs.

I get 100% what you are saying but a few that should have got well in front of some of those, although some great players in there tbf.

I don’t think we could ever compete with a squad entirely of home grown players, I cant think of a team these days that does or could. Though there is no reason why we couldn’t bring through some local talent into the side in future. The higher placed sides scouting in this area will still miss some of the talent here and possibly some youngsters may be worried by the expectation of those clubs and may think they could do better at our level.

Carter, Carr, Yates, Peacock (we were skint so couldn't afford his wages, so he was released but he later went for 4million to Newcastle) Drydon, Purnell, Tanner, Smart, Weston, Howells, Boyle, Penrice, Meacham, Noble.

We have done it before.