FC United restructures with new Reserves and Youth Teams
Following meetings with the football management staff, FC United can announce some changes to the names and structure of the teams we are running this season. While there is no change to the first team, the development and scholars squads are changing and will be known as the Reserves and Youth Team respectively.
The overall philosophy of the club is that every player is a potential first team player. FC United will only recruit players that have the requisite qualities both as a player and as an individual. Only players that demonstrate the correct attitude and behaviours required of an FC United player will be retained within our playing structure. Every player will be offered an equal opportunity to progress and develop as an athlete and as an individual. Additional support will be provided where identified or requested. All players will have access to FC United medical and pastoral support. We will work with other clubs to assist with player development as and when the coaching staff believe it would benefit the individual player and FC United.
Changing the name of the Development Squad to the Reserves
The Development Squad last season comprised FC’s older youth players and those on the fringe of the first team. Not quite U21s, not quite reserves. The name indicated that the players were of a younger age, working towards first team football but still developing as football players and not quite ready for first team action. On reflection this sent the wrong message to the players and we think a change of team name will help focus the players on attaining first team opportunities and assist in recruiting fringe players to play for a reserves team at FC - i.e. one step away from the first team rather than a ‘development squad’ which sounds that little bit further away.
Commenting on the change, FC United team manager Karl Marginson said: “Making this name change gives us a clear pathway from reserve football into the first team. We want to encourage that progression. The reserves will be training alongside the first team and we hope that it will facilitate a conveyor belt into the higher-level side. It’s a positive move and one that clearly shows the progression we are trying to encourage in our players.???
FC United scholars becoming the Youth team
This is an exciting and new venture for FC United. We have recruited 20 full time scholars that will be based at the new ground. To avoid confusion with The Manchester College Academy we propose to call our own academy/scholars the FC United Youth team. These players will be full time at the club and compete as FC United in The National Conference Youth Alliance and the FA Youth Cup (an FC first). As part of their development as players, the Youth team will also compete in friendlies against other semi-pro and professional academies. The scholarship programme is two years long i.e. next season (2015-16) we will have two teams of scholars; first years and second years.
We have discussed the possibility of having an additional youth team competing in the NW Youth Alliance and will keep that under review. Any young players with the potential to become an FC United first team player but unable to attend a full time scholarship programme at the ground, due to work, educational or other commitments may be offered the opportunity to play in our Youth team matches either on a Wednesday or in other designated matches. Dependent on progress players will also be offered the opportunity to play for the reserves.
Manchester College teams – College Academy
The college already call their football offer ‘The Manchester College Football Academy’ and are entering two teams into the English Colleges Category 1 League next season. Entering two teams at the highest level is testament to the quality of coaching provided by the college and FC united coaching staff.
FC United general manager Andy Walsh commented: “At FC United we have a very good record of player development; Scott Cheetham and Lewis Lacy are both members of the current first team squad and three players joined professional clubs last season. The club aims to assist all players to reach their full potential and achieve their playing ambition including stepping up to play professional football where appropriate. This will continue under the new structures we have.???
The overall philosophy of the club is that every player is a potential first team player. FC United will only recruit players that have the requisite qualities both as a player and as an individual. Only players that demonstrate the correct attitude and behaviours required of an FC United player will be retained within our playing structure. Every player will be offered an equal opportunity to progress and develop as an athlete and as an individual. Additional support will be provided where identified or requested. All players will have access to FC United medical and pastoral support. We will work with other clubs to assist with player development as and when the coaching staff believe it would benefit the individual player and FC United.
Changing the name of the Development Squad to the Reserves
The Development Squad last season comprised FC’s older youth players and those on the fringe of the first team. Not quite U21s, not quite reserves. The name indicated that the players were of a younger age, working towards first team football but still developing as football players and not quite ready for first team action. On reflection this sent the wrong message to the players and we think a change of team name will help focus the players on attaining first team opportunities and assist in recruiting fringe players to play for a reserves team at FC - i.e. one step away from the first team rather than a ‘development squad’ which sounds that little bit further away.
Commenting on the change, FC United team manager Karl Marginson said: “Making this name change gives us a clear pathway from reserve football into the first team. We want to encourage that progression. The reserves will be training alongside the first team and we hope that it will facilitate a conveyor belt into the higher-level side. It’s a positive move and one that clearly shows the progression we are trying to encourage in our players.???
FC United scholars becoming the Youth team
This is an exciting and new venture for FC United. We have recruited 20 full time scholars that will be based at the new ground. To avoid confusion with The Manchester College Academy we propose to call our own academy/scholars the FC United Youth team. These players will be full time at the club and compete as FC United in The National Conference Youth Alliance and the FA Youth Cup (an FC first). As part of their development as players, the Youth team will also compete in friendlies against other semi-pro and professional academies. The scholarship programme is two years long i.e. next season (2015-16) we will have two teams of scholars; first years and second years.
We have discussed the possibility of having an additional youth team competing in the NW Youth Alliance and will keep that under review. Any young players with the potential to become an FC United first team player but unable to attend a full time scholarship programme at the ground, due to work, educational or other commitments may be offered the opportunity to play in our Youth team matches either on a Wednesday or in other designated matches. Dependent on progress players will also be offered the opportunity to play for the reserves.
Manchester College teams – College Academy
The college already call their football offer ‘The Manchester College Football Academy’ and are entering two teams into the English Colleges Category 1 League next season. Entering two teams at the highest level is testament to the quality of coaching provided by the college and FC united coaching staff.
FC United general manager Andy Walsh commented: “At FC United we have a very good record of player development; Scott Cheetham and Lewis Lacy are both members of the current first team squad and three players joined professional clubs last season. The club aims to assist all players to reach their full potential and achieve their playing ambition including stepping up to play professional football where appropriate. This will continue under the new structures we have.???
First Posted ~ 10:08 Thu 11 Sep 2014
News ID ~ 5696
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021