Development Squad
Our Development Squad will commence their pre season friendly programme on Saturday with a difficult away invitation game at Durham FC. Durham is owned by former Newcastle United player Olivier Bernard who is a personal friend of Director of Football Development John Salmon. Durham FC has kindly agreed to pay half of the travel costs. Amongst the players featuring for our Development squad will be former Portsmouth professional Chinedu Vine, former Burnley centre back Jack Errington and Pole David Majewski who has been training with Legia Warsaw. Local Daniel de la Bastide is also included in the 16 man squad.
In addition to selected friendlies the Development squad will play on Wednesday evenings in the Lancashire League at Barnton FC against the likes of Hyde United, Curzon Ashton, Stalybridge Celtic and Stockport County. This provides a high standard of opposition allowing our young players to develop ultimately filtering through to the first team in due course. The Board felt that the reserves playing in the Mid Cheshire League created too big a step to first team duty. The Lancashire League also will enable the first teamers to get valuable minutes if returning from injury or suspension.
As a consequence the club will not be running a youth team or Mid Cheshire side this season although it is exploring the possibility of a NPL Academy for 16-19 year olds. The coach for Durham leaves at 9.15 am. Any supporters wishing to watch the Development squad are welcome to join us. Coach fare is £20.
That explains the facebook posting yesterday that Durham were playing Witton Albion
Yes TT. I was sent a Communication from John Salmon, who is very much involved with this project but have only just been able to post it, due to the volume of other things happening around the club.
Half Time Score from Durham:
Durham FC 0 Witton Albion 0.
Latest Score from Durham:
Durham FC 0 Witton Albion 1.
Perreira puts Witton ahead on 85 minutes.
Full Time Score from Durham:
Durham FC 0 Witton Albion 1.
“Developing” well so far!!
WHS.
Development Squad
The Development Squad continue their pre season with a friendly against Legacy Sports Select XI on Saturday at Salford Sports Village 325 Littleton Road M7 3NQ. The 12pm kick off time gives an opportunity to see the team and still get over to Barnton FC for the first team’s away game at 3pm.
Legacy Sports are managed by former Carlisle United and Yeovil striker Kevin Gall and they will be on a high after beating Barnsley F.C.s U21s 2-1 on Wednesday. As all of their players are free agents a number of scouts will be in attendance and the quality on view is expected to be high and consequently another stern test.
Director of Football Development John Salmon was delighted with the 1-0 away win at Durham City last weekend especially as Durham had beaten Darlington by the same score the previous week in front of 600 fans. “We rode our luck in the first half and Durham hit the post. However we always looked like scoring and Flavio Pereira (85) deserved his goal for persistently getting into good positions. Our central defenders were outstanding and Mark Bainbridge was man of the match in a game were there were a lot of good individual performances”.
Saturday’s Friendly is being played at Salford Sports Village in Broughton, Salford. The complex is the former Training Ground of Manchester United previously known as The Cliff.
Full Time Score from Salford Sports Village:
Legacy Select X1 2 Witton Albion 0.
Development Squad
The Development Squad play a pre-season friendly away at Audley FC Townfields Ground Old Road Bignall End Staffordshire ST7 8QH tomorrow at 3pm and then will follow that up with a game against Witton Albion first team on Thursday 30th July at Wincham Park.
Director of Football Development John Salmon was philosophical about last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Kevin Gall’s Legacy Sports Select XI given the quality of the opposition. Scouts from the Premier League, Championship, League 1 & 2 were in attendance as well as many non League clubs. “This game was totally different in nature to the physically strong Durham City. We encountered a technically gifted , tactically aware side whose counter attacks were excellent. The former PSV Eindhoven and FC Twente player Endy Bernadina caused us no end of problems but these contrasting styles are all part of a player’s development.
We recovered very well in the second half after being 2-0 down at half time and were denied a clear penalty. Every player gave their all and as well as good performances from Adam Carden and goalkeeper Lewis Brass, former Bury player Ben Potter was Man of the Match.
The Squad which will be fluid throughout the season enabling us to see many players and support the first team is developing nicely. Paul Ogden (Head of Recruitment) and Terry Murphy (Chief Scout) were in attendance and were very complimentary, which is a testament to how far the lads have come in a very short space of time”.
Development Squad August Fixtures
(Home matches at Barnton FC)
Weds 5th 7.45pm Curzon Ashton (H)
Weds 19th 7.45pm FCUM (H)
Thurs 27th 7.45pm Stalybridge Celtic (A)
Please note: Due to the arranged Friendly against Witton Albion First Team on Thursday, 30th July and the BIKE NIGHT also taking place, the “Fans Forum” scheduled for that night will now be re arranged. Further information will hopefully be available after the weekend.
I assume Kick Off is 19:45?
I haven’t had that confirmed TT but I would imagine that to be the case.
Witton Albion Development Squad vs Witton Albion First Team is now confirmed as Thursday, 30th July at Wincham Park - Kick Off - 7.45pm. Admission is £2.