Youth Integration

[Ghost of Clough]

Surprisingly, we have had a steady stream of youth players making their debuts for our club. At first I thought we had 3/4 coming through, then a wait of a couple of years, then another 3/4 coming through.

Below, a table showing players who are still at our club and came through the academy (most recent first):

Name Debut Age Current Age

Hughes 16 17

Bennett 15 15

Atkins 21 22

Severn 19 20

Hendrick 18 20

Connolly 18 20

Ball 17 19

O'Brien 16 19

So it's taken two years for three out of the first four to have a good run in the first team since making their debuts, with the other having a bad time with injuries.

2 have made debuts this season, 3 the season before that, another 2 before that and O'Brien the one before that. That's a steady two youths a season.

On top of this we have also seen Mendy and Mills (2 seasons ago), Dudley (3 seasons ago). Making 11 youth players being given a chance in the last few years during Clough's reign. Saying that, I can only see five being good enough to make over 50 appearances for the club; O'Brien, Ball, Hendrick, Bennett and Hughes (with some future players coming through as well).

(I don't think I've missed any players, but I may well have done)

[CornwallRam]

Kwame Thomas and Chris Jones both have squad numbers. I don't think that either have made their debuts yet, but they seem to be the next two for the list.

[networker1884]

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