Issue 24 - September 2014 News from League Football Education Touchline Inside: International View | The Tour Trilogy | Big Money Moves | Reece James

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HOME PHONE Academy League Round-up EducationTWITTER FACEBOOK HOME VIDEO Goal of Elsewhere Swindon Town have kicked-off At the time of writing Ipswich Town have Touchline reviews the opening Support FundEMAIL FACEBOOK weeks of the Under-18 season with a bang. The Robins boast a 100 per cent so far ploughed through Crystal Palace and record and have scored a staggering 20 goals Leeds United to take maximum points in the The Education Support FundPHONE will the month and reports on the early high- in four matches so far. Southern equivalent. continue to operate during the flyers for each regional league. HOME Jack Willbye’s 45 yard thunderbolt for Over in the South East, Peterborough United In the Under 18 North there 2014-15 season. Ipswich deservedly saw him claim last With four matches down in the North West and Luton Town top the table after four has been plenty of net busting action with The fund which was originally set-upFACEBOOK in 2006 terms Goal of the Season crown with Youth Alliance, Burnley, Tranmere Rovers wins and one draw from their first five games. Bolton Wanderers thumping neighbours is designed to help clubs enhance and support over two thousand votes. and Walsall remain unbeaten but it is the Yet the eye catching result this term came Blackburn Rovers 5-1 before being on the the education of apprentice players. Saddlers who occupy top spot courtesy of when Watford found Dagenham & end of a 6-0 drubbing by Middlesbrough The question is though, who can follow that Levi Rowley’s one goal per game strike rate. Redbridge’s net eight times without reply who in turn had lost out 6-3 the previous With levels of funding yet to be determined spectacular feat when Goal of the Month at the end of August. week to Everton. LFE chief executive Alan Sykes is keen to returns this season. To watch the competition At the other end of the M62, in the North remind clubs that they should not commit to and more stunning strikes visit the LFE website Birmingham City’s two weeks in Holland In the South, Brighton & Hove Albion will East, Lincoln City and Scunthorpe United spending without prior authorisation from LFE or our YouTube channel LFETV have set the early pace with seven points from seems to have helped them hit the ground be looking to put pressure on Arsenal and and that the key requirement of funding is the three matches. Both share a goal difference of running. The Blues opened up in the Under-18 Tottenham Hotspur at the top after starting enhancement of the education programme. To check out the goals visit: plus two. Professional Development League North with with victories over Fulham and Norwich City. 2-0 and 9-3 wins against Cardiff City and “Since we set-up this fund over £2million www.lfe.org.uk/goal-of-the-month Sheffield Wednesday respectively. pounds has been ploughed back into football to improve the apprenticeship programme at clubs,” Sykes said. “This support has taken many forms - from desktop/laptop computers to sports science equipment and the delivery of life skills. We’re also happy for club’s to look at innovative ways to improve their programmes and if we can support them we will – ultimately the key criteria will be how what they are proposing will benefit their education provision and apprentices.” WEB Further details on funding criteria, PERSON levels and the claims process will be

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HOME PHONE TWITTER The FACEBOOK HOME THE AMERICANDREAMVIDEO HOME Donald Bell Soccer scholarships are Pass4Soccer who became LFE’s chosenEMAIL partner “It’s the perfectFACEBOOK fit for those that want to play in this area two summers ago help dozens a good standard of football, that can lead the ‘perfect fit’ for young of young players head to America eachPHONE year to the MLS while enhancing their career Award players who are not and Gray believes that it remains a great way prospects by earning a degree. FACEBOOK to work towards a University degreeHOME while Derby County’s Offrande Zanzala “The key for second year apprentices is to offered professional deals continuing to play football at a good level. has been named as the winner of FACEBOOK start planning now because that widens their the Donald Bell Award by League according to Pass4Soccer’s “You have brilliant facilities and a fantastic lifestyle options in terms of their end destination.” Football Education (LFE). Daniel Gray. that comes with living in the USA,” Gray said. Zanzala will receive his prize ahead of the Rams

WEB Championship fixture against Bournemouth at For further information, please visit: www.pass4soccer.com the iPro Stadium on 30 September.

PERSON Mike Johnson Award Winner Donald Bell Award Winner The award which commemorates the memory Aaron McGowan, Morecambe Offrande Zanzala, Derby County of Donald Simpson Bell VC was instituted BLOG to recognise the efforts of a player who has overcome adversity of some form. TWITTER T h e 11 The Mike Johnson Award Bell was the first professional footballer to VIDEO £50 enlist in the Army during the First World War What do Lewis Cook (Leeds United), Connor Aaron McGowan picked up the Mike “I’m delighted for Aaron,” said Shrimps and went on to win a posthumous Victoria EMAIL PRIZE Roberts (Northampton Town), and Sam Ling Johnson award for producing the best academy manager Phil Hackney. Cross for the bravery of his actions during an engagement in the Somme, France. (Leyton Orient) have in common? PHONE NVQ portfolio in the country last season. “He’s a young player of immense potential Well they were three of forty-four players who made The 18-year-old Morecambe defender was the and has always applied one hundred per cent Second year apprentice Zanzala was born in HOME it into ‘The 11’ last term. And from October, LFE will youngest player to play in the Football League commitment to anything he’s been asked to the war torn Democratic Republic of Congo once again be focusing on the academic and football in the 2012–2013 season at 16 years and 6 do since he arrived at the club. and has experienced an incredible journey to FACEBOOK become an apprentice footballer at Derby. successes of apprentices in this season’s competition. months old and is also the clubs youngest ever “That is shown by his conduct and the debutant. McGowan received a memento Our team of regional officers will each nominate a quality of his work on and off the pitch – “Offrande has persevered through difficult and and cheque for £250 from LFE ahead of the player from their club’s on four occasions throughout he completed his NVQ diligently and made challenging circumstances and he thoroughly club’s League Two fixture against Plymouth in the 2014-15 season with their judgements based on it relevant to his journey as a young deserves this type of recognition,” said the September in recognition of his efforts on the the following criteria. footballer. He’s an excellent example to club’s Academy Education and Welfare Officer, National Vocational Qualification Diploma in our current apprentices.” Simon Ord. • Academic progress Sports Performance (Level 3). “His life experiences to date have shaped him • Football progress as a person and he is very appreciative of the • Other factors – e.g. participation in opportunity he now has at Derby County to community/charity based initiatives try to fulfil his dream of playing professional A decade of educational excellence football. All winners receive a certificate, cheque It’s 10 years since LFE was established by The Football League & The PFA – watch out for our bumper anniversary edition in December. “The club is proud of his achievements and we for £50 and coverage on the LFE website. wish him continued success in the future.” 4 5 DebutantsThe Since the last edition of Touchline even more LFE apprentices have made first-team bows –

so we thought we’d run the rule over a selection Conor Wilkinson of players who’ve tasted the real thing. Bolton Wanderers A year after finishing his apprenticeship Bradley Goldberg at Millwall and moving to Lancashire to

Dagenham & Redbridge turn pro, striker Conor made his debut for Bolton Wanderers in their thrilling League Has showed that you sometimes have to go down Cup win over Bury. He had come off and work your way back up. Released by Charlton by the time Bolton scored a last minute three years ago Bradley bagged goals galore in equaliser, the first of four goals in seven non-League for Bromley and Hastings – including crazy minutes! a corker in the FA Cup at Middlesbrough – earning a move to Dagenham & Redbridge. He made his league debut in August, aged 20.

Joe Gomez

Charlton Athletic Danielle Machin Photography Machin Danielle England Under 17 defender Joe made his first-team debut in the League Cup win over Colchester and retained his place for the visit of Derby County in the Championship. A second year apprentice, Joe has been handed the number 3 shirt and seems set to spend the season Reece James with the first-team. Manchester United Josh Hare Released by Preston North End just two summers ago Reece’s rise Gillingham to Louis Van Gaal’s first-team squad has been meteoric. Son of Gillingham academy manager Darren, midfielder Last term he was nominated as the clubs Under 21 player of the Josh has patiently worked his way through the Gills’ system season and more recently came to prominence on the Reds tour while other younger players were handed debuts. Ryan Johnson S . T E .C V F of the USA, scoring twice against LA Galaxy. He also impressed Stevenage ENAGE against Roma and Valencia during pre-season. His patience was rewarded in August when he made his first-team debut in the cup at Yeovil. He retained his place Signed from West Bromwich Albion at 16, tall Was one of a handful of United players who could hold their for his league bow against the same opposition four days defender Ryan made his Stevenage debut in the head-up high after the 4-0 hammering at MK Dons in the League later, only to get injured a few minutes into the game. last match of last season and played twice more Cup in August – which also marked his competitive debut. in August for Boro, at the tender age of 17. 6 7 A quartet of apprentices from Football League were three ‘Anglo’s’ in the Scotland Under-17 with the Saint’s, however an injury in the clubs were in the Young Lions squad that saw side that shocked Europe by reaching the semi- warm-up games denied him the opportunity off The Netherlands on penalties after the final finals before losing to the Dutch. of playing in the biggest sporting competition ended 1-1. in the world. Reading defender Zak Jules, from North International Charlton centre-back Joe Gomez was an ever with Scottish family, played throughout “I got to be around an England squad at a present, appearing in all ten games in England’s the wins over Switzerland and Germany. World Cup in Brazil – that was an amazing England may have failed to campaign, from the first qualifier to the final. He then appeared in the semi-final, while experience,” he told the Times. Joe, from Catford in south-east London, did club-mate Jake Sheppard played every cover themselves in glory at “I was running around trying to help, handing not celebrate his 17th birthday until two days minute of the two group victories aged just out water bottles and trying to get the boys View the World Cup in Brazil but after the final but has since gone on to make 16. Birmingham defender Tom Lang, from through the games when they were cramping. his first-team bow for the Addicks. Reddith, was just 16 when he came on for several LFE apprentices did I definitely didn’t want to go home (when the last minute of the semi. lift silverware this summer Recently described as “phenomenal” and injured). I would have been fit to play in the “special” by Leeds United owner Massimo Remarkably it is only just over a year since last group game but got a nick in training and as John Peacock’s Under-17 Cellino, midfielderLewis Cook, was an Luke Shaw was an LFE Apprentice of the there was no point risking anything as we were side won the European integral part of Peacock’s team playing in all of Month at Southampton. Now he has played already out.” the semi-final win over Portugal and most of in a World Cup – impressing in England’s dead Another Oxlade-Chamberlain did get to Championships in Malta. the final before being replaced by fellow LFE rubber against Costa Rica in Belo Horizante play overseas this summer: younger brother apprentice Callum Cooke of Middlesbrough. - and moved to Manchester United for a Christian was in the Portsmouth squad that whopping £27m! While mainly used as an impact sub, Callum, went on the LFE tour to Holland. from Peterlee in County Durham, was Shaw, from West Moseley in Surrey, was in Shaw et al were not the only former LFE part of the England squad throughout the a year group at St Mary’s that also included apprentices in Brazil. Centre-back Bailey competition, clocking up ten appearances over Arsenal’s £16m signing Calum Chambers and Wright, was called-up to the Australia squad the season. His Boro team-mate, centre-back talented midfielder James Ward-Prowse! on the back of an outstanding season for Dael Fry, was an unused substitute in the final While Everton’s former Barnsley defender League One Preston. but did play against Malta and Holland in the John Stones made Roy Hodgson’s standby group stage. Having made his Socceroos debut in the list and an England debut in the run-up to the pre-World Cup friendlies, Bailey – who joined Dael has time on his side though – if he was tournament, another youngster who started his North End as a 16-year-old from Perth – made two days younger he would only be starting his apprenticeship on LFE’s programme was forced the cut for Brazil but did not get to make a apprenticeship this summer! to sit things out much closer to the action. World Cup appearance. They were not the only LFE apprentices who Four years ago, Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade- did themselves proud in Malta though. There Chamberlain had just started his apprenticeship

Remarkably it is only just over a year since Luke Shaw was an LFE Apprentice of the Month at Southampton. Now he has played Centre-back Bailey Wright, was in a World Cup and moved to Manchester called-up to the Australia squad United for a whopping £27m! on the back of an outstanding Opposite page: clockwise from left to right: Bailey Wright, Preston North End & Australia; Lewis Cook, Leeds United & England U17s; season for League One Preston Joe Gomez, Charlton Athletic & England U17s.

Right: Luke Shaw, Manchester United & England. 8 9 Sheffield United’s team spirit wasn’t enough to take them through to the final

Pompey players line-up THE The Netherlands with Edwin van der Sar Bradford City, Birmingham City, Sheffield United TOUR and Portsmouth pitted their wits against Dutch opposition during pre-season. While the Blues took the honours in the LFE tournament, fixtures against the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord, TRILOGY Bradford duo Sam Wright (left) & Jimmy Vitesse Arnhem and FC Twente ensured that everyone Pollard (right) try to get to grips with an PRE-SEASON benefitted from the trip ahead of the 2014-15 campaign. NEC Nijmegen forward Here are some of the best moments caught on camera. Portsmouth’s Under 18 line-up Getting ready for training before facing Vitesse Arnhem with Birmingham City Here come the Blues; Birmingham City prepare to fly to Amsterdam

Kesi Omolokun & Sumaili Cisse found cheer in burying teammate Dylan Mottley-Henry in the sand Sheffield United U18 squad Blues on Bikes - stopping off in the rough at Footgolf at Heeze Castle Though there was time to relax at the Johan Cruyff Shield game between Ajax & PEC Zwolle

Pompey get ready to work Sheff United coaches develop novel technique to deal with the heat in Holland

Watch video The Bantams take on De Graafschap highlights from the tour Learning about the horror of Coaching Club; Blades & September 1944 at the Airborne on YouTube Campione campione ole ole ole Breda exchange ideas Museum, Oosterbeek at LFETV – Birmingham City celebrate 10 11 Move over Team Sky – Notts County’s A view from the dug-out – Notts County’s youth-team are on their way through players at the Mestalla stadium England Finally… while half a dozen of our clubs found their feet on foreign soil – Middlesbrough and Derby County, both previous tourists to The Netherlands welcomed VVV Venlo & Ado Venlo’s players thank Den Haag to these shores. Boro’s kitchen staff

Colby Bishop launches an attack for the Ado Den Haag take on their hosts Team huddle time for Forest Magpies as the Valencia bench watch on Canoeing was one of several activities enjoyed by the Forest & County youngsters

Spain Sammi Skytte, Ryan Yates and Adam Crooks Nottingham Forest and Notts County travelled to prepare to hit the water the outskirts of Spain’s third largest City, Valencia The Rams ran out 3-2 winners to be looked after by Valencia CF & Levante UD. While there was plenty of downtime to enjoy the local Caption TBC culture, training and playing in the searing heat provided Boro academy boss Dave Parnaby its own challenges. talks to the Venlo players and staff Results were mixed for the Reds Under-18’s who fell to a narrow defeat to Huracan Valencia and drew with Levante before Kasheme Walton ensured the tour ended on the right note with a winning goal over Villareal. After losing to Levante 3-0 in their opening fixture the Magpies responded with a 1-1 draw at Villareal and then went one better with a 2-1 win over Valencia thanks to VVV train with Craig Liddle and goals from Kenan Layton and Colby Bishop. Here are some Paul Crager at Rockliffe Park of the best moments from the trip: Forest celebrate Kasheme Walton’s goal against Villareal 12 13 BIGMONEYMOVES With the Transfer window now firmly slammed shut Touchline runs the rule over several big moves for former Apprentices this summer

£4 Aaron Cresswell £7 & £2.5 Harry Maguire £30 Luke Shaw million Ipswich Town to West Ham United million Nottingham Forest to Newcastle United million Sheffield United to Hull City million Southampton to Manchester United

Came through the youth ranks at After impressing at the top end The will he, won’t he transfer Eclipsed current club and Tranmere Rovers and was regularly of the Championship last term tug-of-war involving Sheffield international colleague Wayne talked up as one of the best Newcastle swooped to snap-up the United and Hull City rumbled Rooney to become the World’s players in the Championship while Forest duo, described by manager on over the summer but with most expensive teenager when with Ipswich prior to his £4million Alan Pardew as “two of the finest the deal appearing to be dead arriving at in June move to the Boleyn Ground in July. young talents in English football in the water, for £30million. outside the Premier League,” for eventually signed the promising The left-back was named in last Named in the PFA’s Premier a fee in the region of £7million. defender for £2.5million. season’s PFA Team of the Year League team of the year last for the Championship. Had been a permanent fixture term and still only 19, the young at the heart of the Blades defence, left-back looks set to become a making over 150 appearances mainstay for club and country for for the club since his debut while years to come. still an apprentice in 2011.

£? Diego Poyet £10 Ben Davies £? Brendan Galloway £16 Calum Chambers million million million million Southampton to Arsenal Charlton Athletic to West Ham United Swansea City to Tottenham Hotspur MK Dons to Everton

Despite starting just 20 times for The son of Sunderland manager Has not looked back since Hailed as the next Rio Ferdinand, the Saints, Arsenal parted with Gus Poyet, who left the Addicks breaking into the Swansea first- The League One Apprentice of £16million to capture the England to move across London to sign a team for the (then) injured Neil the Year signed a 5-year deal at Under-19 defender who has since four-year deal with the Hammers. Taylor in 2012. Moved to White Goodison Park in August with Hart Lane in July in a £10million Everton acquiring his services for become a full international. “It’s massive to come to a Premier swap deal that saw Gylfi an undisclosed fee. League club. I wanted a new Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, Sigurdsson head back to challenge and soon as I heard The England youth international known for taking a punt on young the Liberty Stadium. players with potential said; “The there was a chance of stepping up made 17 appearances for MK way he adapted to the Premier I had to take it,” Poyet said. Not bad for someone who was Dons last term and is the youngest League last season at a young age turning up for first-team games player ever to take to the field for shows that he has tremendous at Swansea in his VW Polo, them, aged just 15, when he came quality.” complete with wind-down on as a substitute in 2011. windows – a source of amusement to the rest of the squad – less than two years ago. 14 15 Touchline talks to three former apprentices finding their feet in new Stuart Austin Ben surroundings... Morrison Eaton Davisson

Stuart Morrison is finding his feet While an influx of overseas players with Derby but was then lucky enough to go out Ben Davisson is making the most of again after leaving Bradford City in have arrived at Vicarage Road over to Spain for three months in January as part of LFE’s relationship with Michael Page the summer of 2013. the last three seasons Austin Eaton, the League Football Education programme. as well as the transferable skills he “That went well and I managed to get a trial with A year on from his departure from Valley a former Watford youngster has has gained from his time at Charlton Cordoba. Parade, the young goalkeeper has just taken a bold step in the opposite Athletic after starting a full-time embarked on an undergraduate degree in direction by signing for newly- “I went there for a week at the end of March and job in recruitment. Spanish and Portuguese at the University promoted La Liga side Cordoba. they offered me a contract which was fantastic Davisson who earned a two-year professional of Manchester after taking 12 months to because I have always wanted to play in Spain – While the 19-year-old midfielder is unlikely to deal with the Addicks after his apprenticeship consider his options and bolster his academic so it was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse. be faced with the challenge of going toe-to-toe found his progress stunted by injuries and after qualifications. with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta or Luka Modric in So how is life in Spain? spells at several non-league clubs he elected to “Languages and Sport are the two things the near future, starting this term with the club’s take the plunge into recruitment after speaking I’m good at so I’m looking forward to going B team, in the Segunda B Division, he is excited “There are things I’m still adjusting to,” Eaton added. to LFE. by his new challenge that began on LFE’s player through this course and learning Portuguese “We train twice a day here from 8:45 – 10:15am “I didn’t have a job, I wasn’t playing football, placement programme to Spain almost a year while improving my Spanish as well,” then again at 6pm and I’m obviously learning I had no real direction and was looking for a new after leaving the Hornets. said Morrison. the language as well so it’s frustrating at times career path when Jonjo O’Hara called me to talk when you want to tell team-mates things “I had a good level of understanding of Spanish “I was obviously at Watford as a professional but about what I was doing and offer help as part like ‘man on’ or ‘squeeze up’. That will come from living in Gran Canaria as a child and I couldn’t see a path towards the first-team so I of LFE’s tracking and monitoring work,” though and I think my game (short and technical) carried that on at high school while picking up asked to leave,” Eaton said. Davisson said. is quite suited to the way we play – it’s just a French as well. “I went over to Chile for six weeks to train case of trying to do well in B team and hopefully “I told him that I was looking for a job in the “I didn’t just want to do sport related with a team called Catolica and decided against getting some chances to play or train with city and he asked me what I thought about qualifications like the BTEC when I was at accepting a contract there. I had a brief trial the first-team.” recruitment as LFE had a relationship with “Ben is a great Bradford so I started doing an A Level in Spanish. Michael Page. He put me in contact with Chris Bradberry (talent acquisition manager example of why “The lads at Bradford thought I was mad doing at PageGroup) and that was it really I was off extra work but I did it because – as great as and running. we’re keen to bring football is there are so many people that it “I had a brief trial with in people from the doesn’t happen for and you can’t just rely on “I was really committed to going through the “The lads at Bradford one thing. Derby but was then interview process because I knew that even if I sports world as a thought I was mad lucky enough to go didn’t get this job it might help me in the future. “Over the last year I’ve played part-time to try I then did a 4-5 week internship which gave me lot of their attributes doing extra work but and give football another chance, while working out to Spain for three good idea of what the role entailed. sometimes 50-60 hour weeks in various jobs like resilience, I did it because – as from kids coaching to bar work in hotels and months in January as “While the first week or two was pretty daunting I’ve picked things up quickly and made great as football is I’ve combined that with studying. part of the League determination, incredible strides. there are so many “It’s been a hectic year but that really helped Football Education Bradberry who helped facilitate Davisson’s new confidence, me determine that this course is the right one people that it doesn’t programme. That career added: “Ben is a great example of why for me. passion and pride happen for and you went well and I we’re keen to bring in people from the sports “It was my first pick on UCAS and Manchester world as a lot of their attributes like resilience, translate perfectly can’t just rely on is a vibrant city that I’m really enjoying getting managed to get a determination, confidence, passion and pride

one thing.” to know,” added Morrison. Alan Cozzi / Watford FC trial with Cordoba.” translate perfectly to this industry.” to this industry.” 16 17 If you’re released by Preston North “I spoke to Recce a couple of times in 2012 and “I’d seen him play for Preston, was impressed End as an 18-year-old the last thing again more recently in March when he wanted with him and I’d mentioned his progress to his to assess his options in terms of studying in the brother Matty (now Leicester City), so when we you’d expect is to be turning out in States,” said LFE’s Simon Williams. knew they weren’t going to offer him a deal we front of over 85,000 people, for got him in straight away,” said Joyce. “He sent me his CV and was genuinely interested one of the biggest clubs in the in that route but United offered him a contract “Sometimes certain players don’t fit the What they’ve world just two years later. – which was an amazing turnaround. He then requirements of a manager but we knew what called me earlier this year, which was out of the he was about and thought he’d fit in. He’s been tweeting Yet that is Reece James’s story. blue because he was doing well at United but composed, good on the ball and is extremely Follow us:@LFEonline The youngster played a starring role in he just wanted to touch base in case they let consistent – you have to hand it to him because With so many current and ex apprentices on Twitter, we’ve picked out some of the best tweets we’ve seen recently: Manchester United’s US tour. With 86,432 in him go.” he’s made the most of an opportunity – grabbing it with both hands and that’s what attendance he hit a double for the Reds in their Jack Willbye celebrates winning LFE’s goal of the season James’s determination to ensure he had a back- you have to do. Henry Winter captures Wayne Rooney offering advice to 7-0 thrashing of LA Galaxy and impressed against up plan in place prompted that contact after his Jack Willbye @willbz15 youngsters Harrison Reed and Paul Digby Roma days later. “I wasn’t surprised by his performances in Buzzing to have won academy goal of the experiences at , where he did not fit Henry Winter pre-season and it’s not a case of him being season!!!! Thank you everyone who voted for me @dcfcacademy He has since featured for the Reds against into Graham Westley’s plans. couldn’t of done it without you!!!! Rooney goes straight over to talk to a flash in the pan – he’s a very good player #itfc #eng U20s Valencia and was one of a handful of players to Harrison Reed and Paul Digby at SGP However North End’s loss has been United’s gain. who has performed consistently for over Diego Poyet’s tweets catch up with him in the form of emerge with any credit from the 4-0 hammering 12 months. administered by MK Dons in the Capital One Cup Last term the cultured left-back was Diego Poyet @diegopoyet7 a month ago. a key-man for the Reds Under 21 Feel stupid for the tweets I made when I was 16, “With the new manager arriving everybody the big mans going to kill me!! Sorry side and boss Warren Joyce, is not started this year with a clean slate and a lot @AndyTCarroll However things may have turned out very surprised by his progress, insisting, of the younger players have already been given differently for the 20-year-old had the Reds not that James is far from a ‘flash in opportunities to train with the first-team squad. stepped in to offer him a deal two years ago. the pan’ and is well placed to take The manager wanted to see those players and Ethan Wassall plots his fantasy XI advantage of Louis van Reece is one of a few that have stepped-up Now highly regarded at Old Trafford, James then DerbyCountyAcademy 18, had made enquiries with League Football Gaal’s willingness and impressed them with his attitude @dcfcacademy @EthanWassall from @dcfcacademy planning his Education, about the possibility of heading out to to give young players and quality,” Joyce added. @LFEonline fantasy team for this years competition America on a 4-year soccer scholarship. a chance. #nochancethen

Birmingham celebrate after winning the LFE tournament

Ian Smithson @smithers2204 LFE Tournament: 2014 winners @BcfcDotCom @LFEonline #lfetour

Midfielder Otis Khan looks ahead to the new campaign

Otis Khan @OtisKhan63 Great first week of pre-season, glad to be back #sufc #blades REECE Jose Mourinho has a watching brief as Pompey U18’s train on tour Gavin Willacy @gavinwillacy Jose Mourinho joins @officialpompey academy manager Mike Kelly + Training Trips rep Stein watching #lfetour

LFE Blogger Sam Dryden’s Scotland bow caught on camera JAMES Sam Dryden @SamDryden_ Amazing making my international debut “You have to hand it to him because he’s made the against Belgium on Tuesday! Hoping there’s more most of an opportunity – grabbing it with both hands experience to come! Conor Chaplin lauds Pompey’s pre-season experience

and that’s what you have to do.” Conor Chaplin @ConorChaplin10 Landed. What a trip away! 2 weeks with the boys 18 in holland, been great experience. Ready and 19 looking forward to season ahead! #pfc • Minimum annual salary after 6 months’ service - £17,767 • Free sports facilities and gym membership • Opportunities to play your favourite sports (visit royalairforcefa.com for more details) • 6 weeks’ paid leave • Free medical and dental care • Opportunities for world wide travel raf.mod.uk/careers or ring 0845 605 5555 or 0333 202 7770