Promising news for the trials tonight...

[bozzer]

i think the big draw for people would be playing in front of a decent crowd, and there seems to be a good bit of media interest about us at the moment so that can only help

[ChorltonV]

All of a sudden some negative comments. That didn't take long!!! What are these comments about not being a proper youth setup, surely that's what we're trying to achieve initially. Assuming our level of support can be relied upon I don't see why kids playing with other youth set-ups wouldn't be attracted to play for AFCR&D. And I have no problem with us, assuming we can, attracting the best of those players to come and play for us. I have faith that the ground issue will be resolved and all other things will fall into place, once that happens I believe we'll be a very attractive proposition for young lads looking to make a name in local footballing circles.

[Pigman]

I too think we're a promising prospect, we can't guarantee the support will be there of course, the proof of the pudding is in the first game isn't it? There will always be moaners and cynics, but this is the start of something good for the area - time will tell how good an option we are for young players, but all the problems being thrown up will get resolved - no-one ever said it'd be easy eh?

[ChorltonV]

I would suggest ducking next time the Sky TV cameras pan past though Pigman, we don't want to scare off any parents still unsure of letting thier kids try out for the club.

[nick]

Because being unrelentingly positive has been such a positive in the past :roll: . If people had been allowed to question the previous owners without being shot down and dismissed as 'moaners' or cynics' then it might not have got to the situation that it has now. A bit of scepticism is healthy; walking in a blind, positive, unquestioning haze just means you don't see the problems arising.

And for the record I have no problem with people setting up anything they like, it's a free country but in my opinion youth side's should be about the development of players for their own good. Using it as a main side to support, with large crowds, bringing a whole different atmosphere to the spirit they should be played in is wrong and not something I would support.

[BartonRaz]

More prestigious? How? No ground, no players, no set-up. I doubt many would want to leave their current set-up for that.

I appreciate that you have loyalties elsewhere if your username is anything to go by, but i think you've lost touch with reality here.

The ground situation is due to be sorted, we have been offered the use of certain grounds I don't think there is any secret in that. The trial yesterday is to get players, so there's your answer to point two, and as for the set-up, well i thought we were taking applications for certain positions and as far as i'm concerned AFC R&D has been born.

I was part of Wellingborough Town's youth set-up when the club reformed in 2004, and I can tell you from first hand experience that people will come from all over the county if they sense something is happening, even at that age. Certainly at U18 level we had players from Brixworth, Thrapston, Hunsbury and Duston. That particular venture didn't take off as had been hoped despite healthy early crowds (i think they were getting over 400 for some games early on) but like i've said a million times, history suggests that a club the size of Rushden & Diamonds will return to its natural level, which is considerably higher than the UCL.

[BartonRaz]

And for the record I have no problem with people setting up anything they like, it's a free country but in my opinion youth side's should be about the development of players for their own good. Using it as a main side to support, with large crowds, bringing a whole different atmosphere to the spirit they should be played in is wrong and not something I would support.

Garbage.

[alex_RDFC]

And for the record I have no problem with people setting up anything they like, it's a free country but in my opinion youth side's should be about the development of players for their own good. Using it as a main side to support, with large crowds, bringing a whole different atmosphere to the spirit they should be played in is wrong and not something I would support.

Garbage.

I think Nick thinks that its going to be like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0aVDRMq5Fs

[nick]

And for the record I have no problem with people setting up anything they like, it's a free country but in my opinion youth side's should be about the development of players for their own good. Using it as a main side to support, with large crowds, bringing a whole different atmosphere to the spirit they should be played in is wrong and not something I would support.

Garbage.

ok.

[easystreet]

i tend to think that whilst I am very glad something else has been set-up it has its downside.

Most good u18 players will already know were they are playing next season and all have a stable first team to aspire to.

What about education, stability, a first team to aspire to. It to me seems the cart is pulliing the horse rather than the other way round.

Also having watched alot of Northants Senior Youth matches, big crowds wont stay long watching that level of football, average crowd in that league is about 40 probably for the matches I went to.

If anyone thinks long term hundreds will watch this team on a weekly basis then I think they are mistaken but happy to be proven wrong.

Again think youth is about progression not the pressure of trying to carry a new club on its shoulders.

If things arent planned properly it will fall down.