Review of Reserve and Under 19 Season 2007-08

 

Season 2007-08 was in some respects an unfortunate but experimental one for both reserve and youth (U19) squads.  Unfortunate in the sense that first team management changed mid-season at a time when close co-operation was developing.  These second and third tier teams also had to endure infrequent fixtures and periodic prolonged problems of bad weather postponements.  Equally, the squads suffered from lengthy key injuries and loss of players for various reasons at crucial times.  The season was also experimental in nature in that different things were tried to assess their usefulness to supply and support first team squad needs.  New younger players than usual were introduced to both squads throughout the season to replace other players moving up, moving on.

or injured.  Some of these players played regularly in both teams as a means of evaluating their ability and readiness to make the step up to reserve football. 

 

Whilst many keen observers will feel that the season for both squads was at best average, results and league position wise anyway, it was actually never the case that the season was going to be about winning trophies.  Pre-season club decisions were made that dictated the course of the reserve and Under 19 season. Development of young players was considered more important to the club’s future and serving a long term first team production line than worrying too much about results, positions and trophies. 

 

The season for both squads was something of a roller coaster with highs and lows, stops and starts and no real continuity or consistency.  League tables do not lie of course but neither do they tell the story of a season for any team in any club.  It would be easy to cite the twists and turns of the season for both squads but this would only serve to complicate the issues rather than explain them.  There were many positive aspects to the season.  Of these two stand out as important features to highlight.  Firstly, good young players continue to want to join Guiseley reserve team to develop and progress their football to Unibond standard, which happened with Leon Henry and Dean Walters in particular.  Secondly, is the fact that bringing in quality essentially junior age players like Jordan Smith, Callum White and John Douglas for example, is a worthwhile internal youth development exercise.  It is therefore recognised that, whilst lessons have been readily learnt, the focus on youth should remain but the  structure that underpins this should be reviewed and modernised to best support the club’s aims and ambitions for progress. This review is currently under way and any changes will be commence next season. 

 

A separate article will be published when plans for structural development have been agreed to raise player standards, increase coaching and support and to re-align team provision and feeder partnerships at youth levels to facilitate a greatly improved flow of good quality junior players through to first team readiness.

 

Steve Milner

Reserve & Youth Development Manager

May 2008