Blackpool FC Youth team news thread

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Young Pool keeper tipped for the top

Youth team keeper Mark Halstead, who was called up to the first team squad for the first time in his career for last week's Championship clash at Bloomfield Road with Doncaster Rovers, is being tipped to do well in the game.

He was an unused sub for the game, but for a player who is still a scholar in the youth team, it was a huge achievement and shows that the club have faith in his ability. They could have brought in a loan keeper but chose instead to stick with Halstead with Tony Parkes saying, "The fact that we had no qualms about putting him on the bench last weekend shows you what we think of him. We could have gone out and got another keeper on loan but we feel that he is good enough to be on the bench, certainly for one game."

Pakes added, "We have high hopes for Mark and I had no problems with him sitting on the bench."

With Paul Rachubka available again at Ipswich after serving a one-game suspension, Halstead is unlikely to make another appearance in the matc day sqaud 16 for a while. However, it is clear that Blackpool born Halstead is highly regarded by the senior management staff at the club, who believe he may have the potential to become a future first team player.

Halstead will apparently be offered a professional deal in the next few months.

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Lancashire FA Youth Cup

While the first team are in action at Pride Park playing Derby County, the youth team are due to play their quarter-final match against Morecambe on Wednesday 18th February (presumably at at Christie Park, Morecambe).

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Morecambe 2 Blackpool 3
Lancashire FA Youth Cup, quarter-final

Blackpool beat their North Lancashire coast rivals Morecambe 3-2 at Christie Park to move into the semi-finals. Blackpool's goals came from Jake Hobbs, Jake Forshaw and a Steve Ralston penalty.

In the other quarter-final match played yesterday, PKE won 7-1 at Accrington Stanley.

The updated semi-final draw -

Tranmere Rovers vs Oldam Athletic or Burnley
PKE vs Blackpool

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Lancashire FA Youth Cup, semi-final

On 9th March, Blackpool take on PKE in the semi-finals of the Lancashire FA Youth Cup. PKE have a very strong youth set-up and it will be a very tough game for Blackpool.

The team have started preparing for the game now, including having games videod so they can assess players.

Meanwhile, Blackpool are attracting triallists for youth team scholarships from all around the country, a reflection of the rise in the club's standing in recent years. The youth department are hoping that they can field more first year scholars in the reserve team so that the players can gain much needed experience.

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The Lancashire FA Youth Cup semi-final against PKE is tomorrow.

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Not surprisingly Blackpool lost 0-6 to PKE. :(

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Youth Alliance League, North West Conference

Current table

Position - Club - Played - Points

1st Wrexham 25 58
2nd Carlisle United 24 54
3rd Burnley 20 49
4th PKE 22 44
5th Port Vale 25 37
6th Wigan Athletic 22 37
7th Macclesfield Town 23 36
8th Walsall 23 36
9th Oldham Athletic 22 34
10th Rochdale 24 33
11th Tranmere Rovers 22 30
12th Stockport County 23 30
13th Shreswbury Town 22 25
14th Bury 22 22
15th Chester City 25 21
16th Blackpool 23 18
17th Morecambe 21 16
18th Accrington Stanley 24 8

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Last weekend the youth team got a very creditable 1-1 draw against table toppers Wrexham. Jake Hobbs scored Blackpool's goal with a slick finish from a Lewis Almond pass.

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The youth team recently beat Macclesfield Town 3-1 with two goals from Lewis Almond, and one from Billy McKenna. The team included some of the new scholars from the Under-16 side who will join the youth team next season.

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Blackpool today confirmed the signing of seven "promising youngsters" on two year scholarships as previously mentioned in the "Centre of Excellence" thread on this forum. They will all begin their scholarships when the players report back for pre-season training in June. They are:

Chris Kettings
Chris is a highly rated goalkeeper who was a member of the Greater Manchester Under-16 squad which won the National Championship in April, beating Essex in the final at the New Den.

Already 6ft 2in, he has been with the Centre of Excellence for the last two years, having previously been at Manchester City. He has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs and the Youth Department are delighted he has agreed to sign with the Seasiders.

Thomas Barkhuizen
Tom is a Blackpool born striker who was picked up from local junior football where he has been a regular scorer. He has been with the club for four months and has scored in every game he has played at both Under-16 and Under-17 level! A bright future is expected for him.

Liam Thomsett
Nicknamed Teddy, he is a centre midfield/centre forward from Ulverston who has been with the club for six years. He recently stepped up to the Reserve team, having become a regular in the youth team. His technique and ability have impressed the coaching staff and he is another who is highly regarded by the Youth Department.

Joseph McDonald
Joe, from Blackburn is a tall, pacy striker and can also play out wide. He has impressed at both Under-16 and Youth level, with his strength and pace seeing him become an integral part of the youth team.

Adam Dodd
Adam, from Kirkham has played several times already for the youth team. He plays as a full-back or wide player and has been with the Seasiders since Under-10 level. His versatility has been vital to the youth team and he is another who has gained experience recently with the reserve team.

Adam Mitter
Adam, from Southport, has impressed with his strength and bravery over the last season. He suffered a broken nose in a match but insisted on carrying on playing. Plays at centre-half and is another who has already played in the youth team.

Kingsley Francis-Reynolds
Kingsey was formerly at Tottenham Hotspur and chose to come to Blackpool over a number of other Championship clubs. His pace, trickery and ability has seen him already become a popular figure amongst the youth team squad.

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Goalkeeper Mark Halstead and defender Ashley Eastham have just signed their first professional contracts. They have both been regulars in the youth and reserve teams and will now hope to impress new boss Ian Holloway in an effort to get into the first team.

Both players are on 12 month contracts with the option for a further year and will link up with the first team squad when they return for pre-season training in early July.

The Head of the Youth Department, Gary Parkinson, said


I am delighted that both players have signed professional contracts with the club.


On Mark Halstead he said,

The majority of supporters will know all about Mark as he has appeared on the bench for the first team a number of times. His performances for both the reserve and youth teams have attracted a lot of interest from Premier League clubs, and for him to sign for us is a real boost.


and about Ashley Eastham,

Ash has developed into an excellent defender during the last 12 months and I am confident that if he shows the same effort and desire that he has done during his time with us, he will make a good living out of the game. He's a big strong lad who never shirks a challenge and I am sure he is looking forward to continuing his development alongside some of the senior pros.

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The Blackpool Gazette have reported that Head of Youth, Gary Parkinson, has now permanently moved up to work as a coach with the first team. Apparently Ian Holloway is having discussions about how the youth set up will be run in future. Both he and Karl Oyston have stated how the club needs a stronger Youth Department.

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The youth team fixtures for the 2009-10 season have been announced.

The youth team under manager Gary Parkinson will begin their Youth Alliance campaign with a home game against Tranmere Rovers on Saturday 15th August. The match is due to be played at Squires Gate, with an 11am kick-off.

Fixtures:

Saturday 15th August: Tranmere Rovers (h)
Saturday 22nd August: Burnley (a)
Saturday 29th August: Accrington Stanley (h)
Saturday 5th September: Rochdale (h)
Saturday 12th September: Morecambe (a)
Saturday 19th September: Carlisle United (h)
Saturday 26th September: Oldham Athletic (a)
Saturday 10th October: Bury (h)
Saturday 17th October: PKE (a)
Saturday 24th October: Morecambe (h)
Saturday 31st October: Rochdale (a)
Saturday 14th November: Oldham Athletic (h)
Saturday 21st November: Carlisle United (a)
Saturday 5th December: PKE (h)
Saturday 12th December: Bury (a)
Saturday 12th December: Oldham Athletic (h)
Saturday 9th January: Wrexham (a)
Saturday 23rd January: Burnley (h)
Saturday 30th January: Accrington Stanley (a)
Saturday 6th February: Wrexham (h)
Saturday 13th February: Chester City (a)
Saturday 27th February: Macclesfield Town (h)
Saturday 6th March: Wigan Athletic (a)
Saturday 13th March: Port Vale (h)
Saturday 20th March: Shrewsbury Town (a)
Saturday 27th March: Stockport County (h)
Saturday 10th April: Tranmere Rovers (a)
Saturday 17th April: Walsall (h)

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Blackpool have signed yet another Welsh international to add to those in the first team squad!

Josh Roberts has agreed a two-year scholarship deal. He is a 16 year old left back, who has moved to Blackpool from Tranmere Rovers. He has already played for the Wales U-16 side against the likes of France, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. He recently received his cap from Welsh legends Ian Rush and Brian Flynn.

On 23 September 2008 he scored in a 2-4 frendly defeat to France U-16s at Stebonheath Park, Llanelli.

What is good is that we are now in a position to bring in promising youngsters from other clubs - which is something that used to happen to us.

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Blackpool's youngsters open their 2009-10 Football League Youth Alliance campaign with the visit of Tranmere Rovers to Blackpool next Saturday, 15 August.

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Josh Roberts
More info about the lad.

Josh is from Carmel, a small village in Flintshire, North Wales.

His father, Bill who is a junior coach, told the Flintshire Chronicle,


Since I can remember, football is all Josh thrives on. He’s tried really hard to get to where he is and I don’t know anyone more dedicated than him.


At the age of just 7 he made his first steps in the football world when he became the youngest player to represent Ysgol Bro Carmel primary school team, competing against mostly 11-year-olds.

At 12 years old Josh was made captain of his county team, representing Flintshire until he left school in 2009. In his first season for Mold Junior FC he helped them to a league and cup double. His third year with the club saw the rising star crowned the league’s Player of the Year. And at 14, he joined both the North Wales Football Development Trust and the Tranmere Rovers Academy, before Blackpool came knocking.

His coach at Blackpool, Gareth Barker, has also been impressed with the youngster’s application, as well as his natural talent saying,


We had him for a week and he broke his leg in the second game. So we said we'd look after him, get him rehabilitated and he stuck to the plan and gave a good show. Attitude is 50% of it at this level because we're in a man's world now. So he did well and came back and put in some good performances, technically and tactically.

He's shown that he’s got the capacity to play at this level and, more importantly, to learn, because they've got a hard two years in front of them.


Josh will compete in the Youth Alliance with Blackpool this season, as well as the national FA Youth Cup. All youth players are also eligible to represent the club's reserve side, and Barker added,


He'll be playing reserve football before Christmas. So he'll be playing against guys with 200, 300, or 400 league appearances, which will really test him.

But he's got what we’re looking for. Technically he's decent, he's got a good left foot, his understanding is at the right level, so we're looking forward to working with him and see how he develops now. Hopefully, he'll kick on from here.

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Ian Holloway's determination to overhaul both the youth set-up and the Centre of Excellence saw him talk at length with former Crewe boss and their current technical director, Dario Gradi after the Seasiders 2-1 League Cup win on Tuesday.

Gradi is famous throughout the game in England for his work with young footballers and has produced countless players who have gone onto bigger and better things. He stepped down as Crewe boss in 2007 after 24 years. But he is still at Gresty Road as technical director and Holloway is planning to pay him a visit in the near future to ask for advice on how to identify and keep up and coming players.

Holloway said


Dario is a legend in our game and it's a shame that some of the things that have happened in England over the past few years haven't had his mark on it.

The way he tries to develop footballers is legendary and I will be travelling back to Crewe and talking to him about the youth set up he has going. I want to try and emulate that at Blackpool. I am sick and fed up of losing some good kids to Premier League sides and then having to borrow players instead. I'd rather have them for us and then sell them on. We would be a rich club and getting richer if that was the case.

Dario has done that and he is an absolute legend in the game I believe. We lost one the other week in Bobby Robson but there is another one still living at Crewe in Dario Gradi and I wish his club all the very best for the remainder of the season.


Pool midfielder David Vaughan came through the ranks at Gresty Road and names Gradi as a massive influence on his career.

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The youth team narrowly lost their opening game of the 2009-10 season, 2-1 away to Tranmere Rovers on 15 August. However, they were without some of their strongest players through injury, and also Louis Almond who with the 1st team so short of bodies has been called up for now at least into the 1st team squad. Two players from the under-16 squad also stepped up into the youth team for the match, giving them invaluable experience.

The latest schola,r, Biko Yuondo, arrived this week.

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The youth team are in action again on Friday in another away match, this time at Burnley.

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The current youth squad, with positions and hometowns:

Chris Kettings, goalkeeper. From Bolton.
Joe Potts, goalkeeper. From Blackburn, Lancashire.
Adam Dodd, left-back & left midfielder. From Blackpool.
Adam Foster, central midfielder. From Sunderland.
Adam Mitter, centre-back. From Liverpool.
Ben Breakell, right-back. From Blackpool.
Jake Forshaw, centre-back / right-back. From Blackpool.
Josh Roberts, right-back. From Wales.
Kieran Darcy, centre-back. From Blackpool.
Jake Rooney, central midfielder. From Blackpool.
Joe MacDonald, left midfielder. From Lancashire.
Kurt Bradley, central midfielder. From Blackpool.
Pa Modou Jobe, central midfielder. From Brikama, Gambia.
Kingsley Francis-Reynolds, midfielder / forward. From London.
Liam Thomsett, central midfielder / forward. From Cumbria.
Louis Almond, forward. From Blackburn.
Tom Barkhuizen, forward. From Blackpool.