Looking to the future…..
Key to the emerging strategy for young player development at Parkgate FC is Under 18’s team Manager and Club Committee Member Lee Morris. Lee was approached by Chairman Albert Dudill – a big supporter of young footballers - two years ago to set up an Under-18’s squad at the Roundwood Complex, and so brought his Under -16’s team from Greasbrough Youth FC to Parkgate. The squad enjoyed a fine first season as Parkgate FC Under 18’s, writes Colin Muncie for the Parkgate FC Website.
Evidence of the progress Lee and the young players were making came at the end of last season when four of the youngsters enjoyed game-time with the first team. Lee takes up the story. “The four players (George Morris, Brandon Jenkinson, Kye Andre and Jake Carter) stepped in for the last few games of the season. Coach Lewis Clark and I picked these 4 players because they had enjoyed a good season for the Under 18’s and were - and still are - very determined to do well in their footballing careers with Parkgate FC. With one of them being my son, George, for him to get into the starting eleven on his debut AND playing the full 90 minutes against a strong Barton Town side, meant a lot personally to me. I’ve seen him develop from a young age at Greasbrough Youth and Parkgate”.
Lee is optimistic about the season ahead for the Under 18’s. Lee-now fully committed to the Steelmen told us “After four players moved because they were too old for the Under18’s, we have trialled and signed 10 new players on top of the players we already had. We have decided to sign more than 20 players - with two goalkeepers - because players have work and other commitments so we won’t be short of players for games like last season. We believe we have added better quality players compared to last season and we have high hopes of a successful season at Under 18 level - and we hope to get more players stepping up to the first team if Billy (Fox) thinks they are good enough”.
The Morris family are regularly in evidence at Green Lane and have emerged as key members of the volunteer team. “My wife, Joanne, is preparing the hot food and after–game meals for the players on match days. My son Jack helps out with whatever needs doing behind the scenes. And George and I are with the Under-18’s”.
Lee has moved quickly to establish an Under-17’s squad.
” We originally planned to have two Under 18 squads but decided to form an Under 17’s due to most of the players coming from Greasbrough Youth Under 16’s, just like the other lads did last year.” Lee explained,”The Manager is Martin Mugglestone, who has been at Greasbrough Youth with this team since Under-7’s level and followed me to Parkgate. They have a number of good players who will add to what we are doing at Parkgate FC. I’ve known Martin for years and he is a very good coach and has a great relationship with all his squad”.
Lee has been delighted by Billy Fox’s decision to recruit Nev Hunt as Head of Player Development and the two are already working closely together to develop a strategy for the establishment of a young player pathway. “With Nev’s connections to University and College Football and my links with Junior and Sunday League Football, I believe it will benefit the first team and the club in future years, as we bring through local, young players to play for Parkgate” Lee explained, “We have ambitions to have a U17’s, U18’s, U19’s and an U21’s squad (acting as a reserves team for the first team). “Nev will bring in quality players to the first team – and to all the youth teams we plan to have”.
Lee Morris was talking to the Parkgate FC Website