It is a difficult time of the year, devastating for the players, very difficult for those who have to make the decisions and also a big disappointment for the supporters who have followed their progress with great interest. None of the six have played first team football although four of them have made the bench at various times during the last three seasons.
One of the six is Marc Pugh, the one remaining player from the three year scholarship scheme, and he perhaps has come closest to making a first team debut. Having moved into a central position this season he has been a prolific scorer in the junior teams and won himself some games in the Conference with
In 2004, things changed and players came in on two year apprenticeships rather than three year scholarships. Two of the 2004 intake, Kyle Lafferty and Chris McCann, have already gone on to play in the first team and have won themselves two and three year contracts respectively. For the remaining five, there are to be no deals and like Pughy, they will all move on.
There’s goalkeeper Mark Crossley, who having learned his fate last week still went on the bench for the first team at
Full back and reserve team captain Martin Reilly is this week in La Manga with the
Youth team skipper Nicky Platt joined the Clarets after being released by
Rob Henry, the right back, has turned in consistent performances, and only recently was my man of the match in the fantastic win over Fulham in the FA Youth Cup. He’s tenacious and anyone playing against him will certainly know they have been in a game.
Finally Cayne Hanley, who lost the first part of this season with a serious back injury. He came back with some goals and has played recently up front with Rob Turner. Last season he made the first team bench at
Those of us who have watched these players over the last two years, seen them make contributions to what has been our best youth side in years, cannot let them leave without sending them our best wishes.
To Marc, Mark, Martin, Nicky, Rob and Cayne – it is a big thanks from those of us who stand and watch on the touchline at Gawthorpe and those of us who have watched you in the reserves. We hope you are all successful in finding yourselves new clubs and we wish you all well in your careers.