Wrexham relegation will affect youth development

By Mark Currie, Daily Post

30 April 2008

THE biggest casualty of Wrexham’s relegation from the Football League could be the club’s youth development programme that currently caters for more than 120 of the region’s best young footballers.

The Dragons’ demotion to the Blue Square Premier next season heralds an immediate 50% reduction in the £138,000 the Colliers Park Centre of Excellence received this year from the FA.

And head of youth Steve Cooper is also bracing himself for a reduction in Wrexham’s own contribution, currently running at £70,000 a year.

He said yesterday: “Our annual expenditure is £270,000, the bulk of which is provided by the FA and the club, and the remaining £62,000 comes in through sponsorship and our own fund-raising efforts.

“Although the club remains committed to youth development, our relegation is likely to have a detrimental effect on its contribution and unless we regain our Football League status within two years we will lose all of the FA grant.”

A recent audit by the Football League’s youth development department ranked the Wrexham facility among the top three in the country outside the Premier League and Jim Bryden, the League’s head of youth development described it as a “model of excellent practice”.

But Cooper is concerned that many years work spent in acquiring that high reputation has been put at risk.

“We have made great strides in recent years and the facilities for a club of this size are second to none,” he added. “We are addressing the concerns expressed about the lack of basic skills in the English game by providing training and specialist sessions five times a week for youngsters from the age of 12.

“And it’s not just about football. None of our kids are allowed to wear coloured boots, they are taught discipline, healthy well-being and moral values and they learn a wide range of lifestyle skills in terms of punctuality, politeness and good behaviour.

“Apart from all that we are keeping them off the streets and it doesn’t seem fair they might be penalised because of factors that are totally beyond their control.”

Wrexham has long enjoyed a reputation for producing talented young footballers – England international Michael Owen was on the club’s books as a youngster – and 14 of the present intake are currently playing international age group football.

Cooper has approached the FA of Wales for help in bridging the anticipated funding gap and is also launching a major marketing initiative to raise sponsorship from major companies in North Wales.

“The current Wales captains at under-16, U17 and U19 are all Wrexham players,” said Cooper. “This club has constantly fed players into the national age group teams, to say nothing of the U21 and senior sides.

“And we sincerely believe the best is yet to come because the kids aged between 12 and 14 are going to be very good players if they are allowed to stay with us.

“The rule that says kids must live within an hour’s travelling time of their clubs means we are always going to be the choice for the best youngsters in North and mid-Wales.

“I’d like to think we could work on a much closer basis with the Welsh FA. We already do a lot for them in terms of allowing their teams to use the facilities at Colliers Park and it’s in their future interests to ensure that we maintain the very highest standards of youth development.”

Despite more pressing and immediate problems elsewhere, Wrexham manager Brian Little endorsed Cooper’s comments.

“We have a terrific set-up with some very good coaches and the kids I’ve seen are unbelievably enthusiastic,” he said.

“I’m a very interested spectator because the centre is running well and I’m well aware of the good work that is going on.

“We have had a major setback at first-team level but we don’t want to start cutting back or lose out on working with the best young players in North Wales.

“Something like nine of the current first team, irrespective of how well they have done, came through the youth system and that’s a fantastic achievement.

“So it’s very important to try and maintain what we do. Obviously we are not 100% sure what the funding will be like next season, so any help we can get from elsewhere would be much appreciated.”