No. 35 / MAY 2018 WIGAN ATHLETIC’S CENTRE-BACK PARTNERS DAN BURN AND CHEY DUNKLEY DISCUSS THEIR CONTRASTING JOURNEYS TO THE DW STADIUM PLUS APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR • CLUBS IN THE COMMUNITY •Touchline LIFE SKILLSMay 2018 1 Welcome to brought to you by League Football Education No. 35 / MAY 2018 WRITTEN BY JACK WYLIE | DESIGN BY ICG Pass4Soccer Trial Assessment Pass4Soccer, LFE’s official partner Trials 2018 for helping former apprentices earn soccer scholarships in the TUESDAY 8TH MAY 2018 Players have the chance to USA, are hosting a trial game for FA Youth Cup showcase their talents in front Bury FC, players on Friday 11 May. Gigg Lane of scouts from professional The story so far... clubs, non-league clubs The event will take place at Walton From an October trip to Valley Parade to and Universities in the UK Casuals FC, with a large selection an April evening at the Emirates Stadium, and abroad at LFE’s annual of University soccer coaches Blackpool have enjoyed an unforgettable Assessment Trials. searching for new recruits for their squads for next season. journey to the last four of the FA Youth Cup. The events are open to those who are coming to the end of For more information on how to WEDNESDAY 9TH MAY 2018 their apprenticeship or the end of register, give Pass4Soccer a call The young Seasiders recorded five away wins “It was a great goal for me. I just remember being really Nuneaton Town FC, a first professional contract (Under on 0191 229 5236. Liberty Way Stadium along the way to the semi-finals and overcame focused and I think we were all just determined to make 19 year) with the aim of helping three Under-18 Premier League sides – West Ham the most of the opportunity. To pick up a draw against players find a route back into the United, Southampton and Blackburn Rovers. Arsenal was unbelievable and we were absolutely buzzing.” game at an appropriate level. Midfielder Dylan Sumner was an ever-present Their dreams of a place in the final were shattered by a All games will be filmed and Education for the Tangerines. He told LFE: “Last year, we 5-0 defeat in the second leg, but Sumner still had fond streamed via LFE’s Youtube Support Fund got knocked out by Bolton in the first round, so memories of playing at Arsenal’s 60,000-capacity stadium. channel: http://bit.ly/LFETrialsTV obviously it’s a prestigious tournament and we He said: “We got there a bit early so that we could THURSDAY 10TH MAY 2018 For more information, visit The Education Support Fund wanted to get at least one stage further. walk around and get a few pictures and stuff. The Woking FC, www.lfe.org.uk/trials2018 deadline is fast approaching, with “In the first couple of rounds, we played Bradford game didn’t go to plan but just to play in that stadium, Laithwaite Community Stadium nearly 50 clubs still yet to submit and Doncaster, who we felt we should be beating, on that pitch and in front of quite a few people was a claim. but after that we just thought that every win was a pretty special and an experience I won’t forget.” bonus. We knew that the Category One teams were Meanwhile, Birmingham City and defending At the time of writing, 27 clubs going to be good because they've all got great have entered their proposal, champions Chelsea were the other semi-finalists, LFE Club facilities, but beating West Ham proved to us we with the eight-time winners advancing to a seventh with 15 of those claiming the full can take on anyone and gave us a real boost.” successive final after a 7-0 aggregate win. allocation of funding on offer to Annual A penalty shootout success against Southampton In addition to Blackpool’s success, two other EFL Youth TUESDAY 1ST MAY 2018 cover the cost of new IT equipment, was followed by a 2-0 victory at Ipswich Town, Alliance academies produced some memorable Oxford United FC Meetings such as video analysis software, setting up a clash with local rivals Blackburn, moments to reach the latter stages of the competition. iPads and Laptops. which ended 3-2 after two goals in the final three LFE’s annual Club Meetings minutes from Will Dunne and Rowan Roache. In particular, Plymouth Argyle followed up their Other potential purchases can sensational victory over the superstars of Manchester City will take place at Oxford, “All the way through the run, we just stuck together Leicester and Huddersfield. include heart rate monitors, with another stunning display to down Burnley at Turf delivery of Life Skills sessions and made sure we kept our heads up,” Sumner Moor, with second-year apprentice Billy Craske finding said. “We saw a few big names drop out early like WEDNESDAY 2ND MAY 2018 The events provide the to support EPPP and activities the net in the 93rd minute to send them through. opportunity for clubs to Man City and United, so it made us probably believe Leicester City FC providing evidence for the NVQ a bit more that we could keep on progressing. However, the fairytale ended in the fifth round at the share best practice and or BTEC. hands of Fulham, who triumphed 3-1 in extra-time deliver updates on the “Having beaten two Premier League Category despite Klaidi Lolos giving Argyle a first-half advantage. apprenticeship in sporting Clubs have until 31 May to notify One clubs, to then face Ipswich and Blackburn Bury were the other Youth Alliance outfit to progress excellence programme. LFE of their intentions. wasn’t as daunting anymore because we’d already deep into the tournament after Callum Hulme’s strike Clubs can send up to four beaten teams who are higher than them.” Any queries should be directed to helped them to see off Aston Villa in round four, THURSDAY 3RD MAY 2018 delegates on the day. Alan Sykes on 01772 326 870 or A two-legged tie with Arsenal was next on the agenda although they also fell at the next hurdle following Huddersfield Town FC email: [email protected] for Pool, with Sumner netting a first-half equaliser – which a 3-1 defeat to Steve Spooner’s Birmingham. was later voted LFE’s Goal of the Month in March – while captain Ben Jacobson scored his third of the tournament Elsewhere, two apprentices are currently tied at the top as John Murphy’s side took a 2-2 draw to the Emirates. of the goalscorers’ chart as Dylan Florence (Dagenham & Redbridge) and George Lloyd (Cheltenham Town) Sumner added: “They were expected to win, so it LFE is supported by: remain neck and neck on eight goals alongside Chelsea’s took the pressure off us and we could just go out, Under-17 World Cup winner Callum Hudson-Odoi, play with a bit of freedom and give our all. We went who will have the chance to claim an outright lead behind twice but didn’t panic and took our chances. when he takes on Arsenal in the two-legged final. 2 May 2018 Touchline Touchline May 2018 3 North East Division Southern Merit League One U18 Professional U18 Premier League North Academy Development It is a case of déjà vu in the North Exeter City are in a familiar position Derby County secured sixth place in the table, finishing top of the pile of League North East division, with Mansfield Town as they top the Southern Merit the North section EFL clubs. Leagues almost certain to secure their third League One, maintaining the form It appeared for a long period title in a row. The Stags boast that saw them lead the way in the that nobody wanted to win the The Rams finished the season at a canter, defeating Newcastle United (3-1) Round-Up the best offensive and defensive South West regular season table. Northern section this season until and Wolverhampton Wanderers (5-3) thanks to five goals from first-year Morgan Whittaker, who netted a hat-trick against the Magpies. records in the league and are The Grecians were almost Bolton Wanderers and Leeds currently on a 13-game unbeaten unstoppable in April, cruising to United finally pulled away from the Newcastle have produced some notable triumphs of their own this run to open up an 11-point gap at comprehensive victories against pack in the final few weeks. calendar year after initially starting the season without a win in 11 games. the top. Oxford United (3-0), Bristol Rovers Heading into the final round Their first league win came in January in a 5-2 win against Manchester City, Their only defeat of the season (7-0) and Milton Keynes Dons (5-1), of fixtures, the young Trotters ending their unbeaten home run that had lasted since May 2015, while the came in October against fifth- with first-year apprentice Jack held the slender advantage of a Geordies also beat Northern champions Manchester United, with second- placed Oldham Athletic, but the Sparkes enjoying a sensational spell solitary point after eight wins on year apprentice Elias Sorensen scoring in both victories. Latics were blown away in the in front of goal, netting four against the bounce before a 3-3 draw Meanwhile, the season ended on a high for Wolves as they saw off fourth- reverse fixture in April as Aiden Rovers before notching three more against Crewe Alexandra. Their placed Everton thanks to an Austin Samuels double.