Friday, May 18th, 2012
Redditch United’s rising stars can look forward to taking on neighbours Worcester City when their inaugural u21 campaign gets underway.
The Valley Stadium side will play in the
East/South Division of the new Midland Combination set-up with Sutton Coldfield Town, Romulus and Highgate United among the others making up the ten-team league.
Mark Fenemore (left) and Brian Knight (right) with two of the Under 21's hopefulls (picture courtesy of the Redditch Advertiser)
It is planned that the top club from each division – another division will cover the West/North and will include the likes of Loughborough Dynamo and Rugby Town – will play-off for a Champions Trophy at the end of the season.
Mark Fenemore, Director of Football at Redditch United, said the new league fitted in perfectly with the new set-up at the club.
“Many players find the step-up from youth football to the adult game too much,” he explained. “This new league provides the perfect stepping stone as we look to develop the best young players in Redditch.
“Manager Brian Knight has done an excellent job with the Midweek Floodlit Youth team and many of those players will be looking to progress with him into the new set-up.
“And with first team coach Graham Hyde also involved in the coaching, there will be a perfect link between the two senior sides. It shows that Redditch United is building for the future.
“Also, we are able to name three open age players for each u21s match allowing further integration with the first team.”
A spokesman for the Midland Combination said the launch of the new league had followed several months of talks with the Football Association.
He said: “It has been recognised within the National Game Strategy that there is a lack of opportunity for young males to continue within football at a suitable structured standard once leaving youth football rather than entering full scale adult football. The formation of this league will help address the identified issues.
“It is therefore our aim to create a defined path for players and clubs alike to progress from Youth to Adult football.”
Training for Redditch United’s u21s and first team starts at the Valley Stadium on Tuesday [June 28] at 7pm. Anyone interested in attending should contact the club on 01527 67450 or u21s manager Brian Knight on 07734 536109.
