Trials a success

5:51pm Wednesday 7th May 2008

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers' new youth team will be working hard on the pitch and in the class room next season after agreeing a deal with a consortium of schools and colleges in the Wyre Forest area.

The new-look team, which is being put together by the club over the next few weeks, will be sponsored by Continu, a group made up of a host of schools, Kidderminster College and other training organisations.

It means the players, all be aged between 16 and 18-years-old will be studying a course almost as hard as they will be playing and training.

Over one hundred hopefuls attended trials at Aggborough over last weekend under the watchful eye of first team manager Mark Yates and coach Nick Griffiths.

The team will be run through the club's Football in the Community scheme, of which Griffiths is a part of.

At least 11 players have already been signed for the proposed 24-man squad, with trials yesterday (Wednesday) set to whittle down the remaining candidates who have been asked back by the club.

The players were a mix of local hopefuls and ones released by other football club's academies.

"We had an excellent response for the first trial and had over 100 boys turned up," said Griffiths.

"There was a 50-50 split between local lads and one from academies.

"We think there are at least a couple who have the ability to break into the first team."

The club's previous youth system, which was ran by Phil Mullen, was shut down two years ago because of financial reasons, but it's hoped by Harriers that this new set-up will find the stars of the future.

In the past players such as Lee Hughes and Richard Forsyth have risen through the ranks to become legends for the Aggborough club.

Harriers have applied to play in the Midlands Youth Floodlit League next season and are waiting to hear a reply.

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