Friday Freebie: More investment and time is needed for pathways

Bridging the gap between youth and senior football is vital for development

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The idea for this article comes from a newly upgraded subscriber Wayne Meridue. Wayne is the manager of Littlehampton Town Youth under 18’s and is well versed in the lack of pathways for players of that age across the country.

Less than 1% of players picked up by the Premier League clubs for their academies make an appearance at the top level. While a lot of these kids don’t filter down lower into the system there is still plenty of talent around that carve out a career in non-league football.

But where do all those players end up? There are many clubs from the National League downwards that don’t bridge the gap from youth to first team with Under 23’s.

Most of that reason is purely financial, it doesn’t generate income and costs in every way to run the side for the year On top of that is the need for a bloated squad which again increases costs as well. That is understandable the further you go down the non-league pyramid but it’s more beneficial when players move around far more frequently.

Some clubs are now realising that to continue long into the future they need to invest in under 23’s and under 18’s in order to do so. They recognise that jumping from top end youth football in County League football or above the gap can be beyond some and those players end up drifting away as well.

Whilst in the National League divisions you can probably get away without the need for solid support underneath that is only due to the players available thanks to smaller squads held by EFL clubs. Most that have dropped out of the Football League no longer hold their own academies after funding is cut, once again everything points to protecting the big boys.

The question then is should there be more investment in both these levels of football and where does it come from? It certainly won’t appear from either the FA or the Premier League.

I can’t say I have the knowledge to work out how much it would cost to run an Under 23 side. At the lower levels they are mostly midweek competitions with the added cost of the floodlights thrown in as well and not many coming in through the gate to watch.

Add in paying the three officials, food afterwards and clubhouse staff, you can see why clubs veer away from it instead of encouraging it. Maybe there should be more incentive, maybe more encouragement, and maybe more of a business plan for clubs to adhere to at all levels.

While the first team is the cream if there aren’t players to aspire to moving up and into that level, it will come a cropper at some stage. I fully appreciate how difficult it is at clubs, I did my stint a few years ago at Step 6 and unless you are successful on the pitch in a club that grows, you aren’t attractive to prospective players.

So, what is the answer? Moving Under 23 football to Saturdays would mean players possibly needing to play both days of the weekend, and if the first team run short would the 23’s end up not being able to field a team?

Should there be a subsidy to cover a new operation of creating these teams including a ‘energy’ payment to take away the cost of the floodlights with clubs having to provide evidence they have spent the money on these things alone?

We can all appreciate it gets harder year on year to survive, to be one better than your rivals down the road, but if they manage to do it, what’s stopping you?

Would love to know your feelings and ideas on this topic, especially if your club has the pathway or you feel it’s really needed, let me know in the comments below.