Valuable experience for U21s in injury-hit Gainsborough Trinity friendlies
Those who have followed injury-hit Gainsborough Trinity's pre-season friendlies so far will have seen a handful of unfamiliar names on the team sheet.
Normally, trialists don’t have a name associated to them, but these unknown players have had their names included on the team sheet, and that’s because they are from the Holy Blues' U21s side.
They are local players who have progressed through the age groups within the Foundation set-up, and have been identified through U21s manager and pathway coach George Housham as players who have impressed with their ability, attitude and application.
Working closely with first team boss Russ Wilcox, Housham has worked hard to supplement Wilcox’s side in what can only be seen as a win-win for both sides of the coin.
The local up and coming talent will only benefit being around the first team, with the management team of Wilcox and Kevin Pressman boasting well over a thousand competitive league games between them.
They can see the pathway to the first team, and the standards they need to meet.
And supporters can see the up and coming talent from within the town and surrounding areas, while the management have the bodies to ensure that players’ loads can be managed in the right way.
Six players linked to the U21s were involved in the first pre-season friendly - a 4-0 win away from home against Step 5 side, Frickley Athletic and keeper Thornton Checkley kept goal for the final 10 minutes, keeping a clean sheet.
Cameron Davies, Noah Ward, Charlie Beale, Charlie Doble and Kyle Smith all gained valuable experience and minutes on the pitch.
Beale, Davies and Smith then all travelled with Trinity for the trip to Lincoln United.
Most recently, at Basford United, former U21 keeper Jake Sykes played the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Beale and Doble playing as well as experiences for Alfie Eccleshall and Jaxon Stevens.
“I’m a proud manager to be honest, “ said Housham.
“As a group, they’ve come in, played well, and done what Russ has asked. And there’s not a lot more than you can do.
“When you’re getting minutes at 16, it’s really positive for the club.
“We’re building a closer working relationship with the first team under their umbrella and it’s only going to go from strength to strength. These first few friendlies have just underlined that.”
Wilcox praised the efforts of the youngsters, saying: “Credit to the U21s and their manager George – he has been great, giving the lads the opportunity, allowing us to rotate as we have needed to.
“They’ve got things to learn, we know that, but some of the lads that have been involved so far have been 16 and 17 years of age.
“Hopefully we can keep developing them, George can keep on working with them and we can maybe see some of them in the squad during the season.”