Phil Hackney looks at youths' pre season so far
The Academy will complete their pre-season preparations with a final fixture away to Stalebridge Celtic FC Youth next week (provisionally Thursday) before their first game of the 2013/14 Football League Youth Alliance season which kicks off on August 10th against Macclesfield Town FC Youth.
Phil Hackney (Head of Academy Coaching) said that the pre-season programme had proved to be challenging and successful in terms of players gaining time on the pitch and increasing their knowledge and understanding of the systems of play and their roles and responsibilities within the team.
He said: "The teams have played against ‘senior’ players and youth teams from semi-professional clubs, allowing players to get the benefit of match fitness as well as getting used to team formations and strategies.
"There appears to be a good spirit in the camp, and fixtures such as these, no matter what the result helps with the team bonding, allowing players to get used to each other's styles and play.
"Overall, the pre-season has seen the teams play some exciting attacking football during the learning process and with improved concentration levels and the understanding of their roles and responsibilities.''
He said he is optimistic that the youths will give a good account of themselves during the forthcoming campaign.
He said: "The results have not been important, although be assured the teams have gone out to win every game.''
Without wanting to single out too many individual players, Phil gave some insight to what to expect from some players this term.
Striker Tom Woods has returned for the new season much fitter and stronger and is in a rich vein of goal scoring form.
New team captain Aaron McGowan continues to push for some more first team outings and Alex Naylor is demonstrating the technical and tactical performance he is capable of.
The College scholars have interacted well with the apprentices to ‘form’ the Youth Alliance squad and Central Defender Tyler Bowman is adjusting well to the higher level of football, along with Declan Watson and Jay Colbourn who have already shown their capabilities during the pre-season games.
The new campaign kicks off at Lancaster and Morecambe College with the visit of Macclesfield Town FC Youth on August 10th kick-off 11am, where supporters are welcome to support the next generation of Morecambe FC players before getting to the Globe Arena to see the first team in action against Torquay United FC in the afternoon.
Morecambe FC Youth August Fixtures:
10 Aug Macclesfield Town FC (H) 11am
17 Aug Tranmere Rovers FC (A) 11am
24 Aug Oldham Athletic FC (A) 11am
31 Aug Shrewsbury Town FC (H) 11am