The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

It was interesting to see Charlie Butt back on the bench on Tuesday evening, as he was one of several "forgotten" players in our squad.

With the good news on recent arrivals / returnees it looks like we'll finally have a few more players available than the basic matchday 16. I wonder if this might finally be time for the U21 setup to contribute by giving some game time to the likes of Butt, EL-J or one of the others who are short of first team action either side of Christmas and who can't be accommodated in the 16? It appears the likes of Matt Pinder and Joe Ackroyd are being groomed for the first team squad, but for whatever reason are rarely playing with the U21s, so this might be an alternative way to make that team more relevant to the club as a whole, as it doesn't appear to fit with the other aspects of club strategy (community / academy etc).

I'd say a good place to find "club strategy" is in the club's Mission Statement, from which the following excerpt is taken:

AFC R&D Mission Statement wrote: - To aid and promote the development of talented football players from the local area
- To provide footballing opportunities for all ages regardless of gender or ability
- To provide a sensible playing pathway for young children through to adults

I do feel it is a real shame that the U21's don't get more publicity and coverage on the OWS, which contrasts to the excellent coverage that the U18's enjoy. I appreciate that, possibly, we havn't a volunteer who is able to perform the same role that Haden Potts does with the 'scholars' set up. As a result, matches and performances from those who play in the U21's go largely unnoticed by rank and file fans.

Clearly Darren Purse has certain priorities in his role at MAA that may not allow players such as Ackroyd and Pinner getting some match time within the U21 set up.

AndyKirkup wrote:I'd say a good place to find "club strategy" is in the club's Mission Statement, from which the following excerpt is taken:

AFC R&D Mission Statement wrote: - To aid and promote the development of talented football players from the local area
- To provide footballing opportunities for all ages regardless of gender or ability
- To provide a sensible playing pathway for young children through to adults

Indeed, but would it not be better to have a more solid "playing pathway" from U16 level that allows those without the academic ability (or other resources) to join the MAA for the U17 / U18 level to continue with the club. Those U18s in 2013-14 that didn't go the MAA route didn't seem to stick around in the U21s in 2014-15, and most of the regulars in the U21s each season that are outside of the U18 umbrella don't seem to stick around too long. I believe we have / had quite a few from outside East Northants in the U21 setup to make up the numbers too.

Don't forget that in some cases the scholars will have part-time jobs at the weekend.