Issue 22 - January 2014 News from League Football Education Touchline Inside: The Debutants | 2013 in pictures | Added Extras | Charlie I’Anson Muamba’s message LFE was established by The Football League and The Professional Footballers Association WEB PERSON BLOG TWITTER WEB VIDEO WEB PERSON EMAIL BLOG PERSONPHONE @LFEonline TWITTERblog.lfe.org.uk BLOGHOME WEB news www.lfe.org.uk VIDEO/LFEonline TWITTERFACEBOOK PERSONEMAIL VIDEO BLOGPHONE EMAIL HOME PHONE The The 11 kicked-off in TWITTER October with eleven FACEBOOK HOME Goal of talented teenagers VIDEO the month receiving the seal of EMAIL FACEBOOK approval from LFE’s PHONE Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer would 11 team of regional HOME be at loggerheads picking the best of officers to make up the LFE bunch from September and FACEBOOK October but it was Giorgio Rasulo the inaugural XI. (MK Dons) and Kane Farrell (Southend Here’s the line-up: United) whose strikes topped the voting polls respectively. Connor Mahoney Accrington Stanley Harry Williams Cheltenham Town The same talent which saw forward Rasulo called up to the England U17 side last season Sam Szmodics Colchester United was caught on camera and plumped for by James Jones Crewe Alexandra 40 per cent of online voters after his neat Jake Charles Huddersfield Town turn and snap shot from 25-yards-out left the Bryn Morris Middlesbrough Dagenham & Redbridge keeper floundering. Tyler Guy Notts County October’s accolade was picked Ben Close Portsmouth up by left-back Farrell, with Images courtesy of Bradley Hadwin his marauding run and Ioan Evans Sheffield United cool finish polling over Fejiri Okenabirhie Stevenage FC 1000 votes. Robert Evans Wrexham Academy League Round-up Christmas has come early for all Football League apprentices Blackpool look set to top the table at with Exeter City, Oxford United and Park Rangers, Charlton Athletic and after The Professional Footballers’ Association arranged a Christmas with only Walsall and Rochdale Bournemouth tied on seventeen points as Millwall who hold the top three places. deal with Sports Direct for them to supply every apprentice in with a realistic chance of knocking the the region’s top performers. PFA In the Under 18 Premier League player with a pair of Puma King football boots. Seasiders off their perch in the North West In the South East, Colchester United have Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hopeful Youth Alliance. Further down the standings For more information about this initiative please leapfrogged Watford and Portsmouth to hit of edging closer to the Manchester clubs, just six points separates no less than nine register on the www.thepfa.com the summit of the table but fourth place Luton United and City by winning their game in hand Boots teams in the closely contested division. OCTOBER: will have plenty of opportunities to apply some though the 11 point gap to Everton may take RASULO Unbeaten Bradford City are the stand- pressure if they can win a couple of their four some bridging. NOVEMBER: out side and runaway leaders in the North games in hand. FARRELL Buoyed by their victory over Chelsea, East. The Bantams boast an unrivalled plus The North Under-18 Professional Development Leicester City will be keen to string a run of thirty goal difference, with Oliver McBurnie’s League is being dominated by Huddersfield wins together in the Southern division to lift seventeen goal haul proving more than useful. To check out the goals visit: Town who are 11 points clear of Sheffield them up the table. www.lfe.org.uk/goal-of-the-month A three-way battle for the South West top United. While the Southern equivalent looks spot is set to take place in December promising for London neighbours Queens 2 3 WEB PERSON WEB BLOG PERSON BLOG TWITTER TWITTER WEB VIDEO WEB PERSON EMAIL VIDEO BLOG PERSONPHONE @LFEonline TWITTERblog.lfe.org.uk BLOGHOME Got a story? Want to share news with other EMAIL WEB news www.lfe.org.uk VIDEO/LFEonline TWITTERFACEBOOK LFE partners? email: [email protected] PERSONEMAIL VIDEO PHONE BLOGPHONE EMAIL HOME PHONE TWITTER Education FACEBOOK HOME Fantasy VIDEO THE HOME EMAIL SupportFACEBOOK Fund Football PHONE LFE chief executive Alan Sykes has AMERICAN 43 FACEBOOK FORTY THREE urged clubs to make applications SCHOLARSHIPS HOME FORTY THREE SCHOLARSHIPS for the Education Support Fund 4433 L FE update FACEBOOK sooner rather than later. DREAM The fund which ploughs over £250,000 back into Football League clubs to support LFE’s Simon Williams has offered a glowing Pos Team Name Manager Name GLS ASS PTS the education of apprentices has been used assessment of LFE’s progress in helping over 40 1 - Pep Rowe’s U16’s George O’Neill 31 27 576 historically to pay for equipment such as, heart-rate monitors, outward bound days and players gain soccer scholarships in the USA this year... 2 - Jacks Team Jack Tuite 43 13 536 importantly laptops and other IT equipment 3 - The Weavedog Wanderes 2k13/14 Jacob Weaver 37 18 525 - which is key to the delivery of a blended The figure represents a significant increase PASS4Soccer is hosting showcase 4 - Pete Barrys Barmy Army Anthony Harris 41 16 517 learning programme according to Sykes. from previous years and Williams believes it events at the London Soccer Dome bodes well for the future: on 15-16 December 2013 and 4 May 5 - A’sss Manny Adeyeye 40 14 507 “Clubs are welcome to send in applications 2014 to enable apprentices (with now and I’d encourage them to do that and “It’s a positive step for them and those thinking ensure they fully utilise the fund,” Sykes said. about making the move,” Williams said. club permission) to play in front Leading the way in LFE’s Fantasy If you’ve not registered yet visit of USA Head Coaches. “Club’s will be expected to demonstrate clearly “We watched 43 players fly over to the States Football competition and in fantasy.football-league.co.uk, during the summer and our partnership with To find out more read: pick your team and join LFE’s that they are enhancing their programme and line for the top prize of £250 that whatever is spent links back to the players PASS4Soccer allows clubs and apprentices private league by using code: ’A Guide is Birmingham City’s first year overall education and learning experience to understand and make the most of this apprentice George O’Neill. and the qualifications they are undertaking,” fantastic opportunity.” to American he added. At a busy time of year when players take on Forty points adrift in second is Derby County Scholarships 7409857 Club’s wishing to use the fund should let more games than turkey and stuffing, planning and Republic of Ireland youth international Jack for the future can easily be forgotten; with 2014’ Tuite but the defender is closely followed by LFE know their intentions by 28 February All requests to join the competition are that in mind LFE has announced that its annual On the football front, the 2014 Assessment at: www.lfe.org.uk/ The Weavedog Wanderers managed by O’Neill’s 2014 for further details please visit: www. verified by LFE. Please note that any careers event, ‘Create Your Legacy’ will take Trials will kick-off on Thursday 1 May in the downloads and Blues team-mate Jacob Weaver. inappropriate team names will be rejected. lfe.org.uk/about/education-support-fund place on Thursday 27 March 2013 at the North and be followed by trials in the South call Simon Williams Remember the competition isn’t just about cash University of Warwick. (6 May) and Midlands (7-8 May). on 0845 074 0561. prizes, managing selections from the Football 1st £250 League Championship provides important CASH evidence contributing to the NVQ portfolio 2nd £150 required to complete the qualification. PRIZES 3rd £100 LFE’s Create Your Legacy Assessment Trials 2014 2014 Event will be held at North Thursday 1st May Midlands Thursday 8th May Warwick University on www.fantasy.football-league.co.ukWEB | League code: 7409857 South Tuesday 6th May Thursday 8th May Thursday 27th March 2014 PERSON 4 5 BLOG TWITTER VIDEO EMAIL PHONE HOME FACEBOOK Matt Jay Exeter City Demarai Gray & Reece Brown The Exeter playmaker made his full league debut in November, playing Birmingham City almost an hour of their 2-0 defeat Winger Gray, aged 17, played the last minute of Birmingham against Phil Brown’s much fancied Connor Mahoney City’s 4-0 win over Millwall in October and has since added five Southend side. Accrington Stanley more appearance for the Blues, including a start against Charlton in November. He was the second of Birmingham’s second year Amidst the gloom of the opening weeks apprentices to make their debut this term, following Brown, of season the emergence of Mahoney was who played in the Championship defeat at Burnley in September. a rare bright spot for Accrington Stanley, though with James Beattie’s men on the move up League Two, the 16-year-old may Jack Whatmough The have to wait a little longer to add to his 6 first-team appearances. Portsmouth Pompey’s Whatmough will be hoping for happier times at Fratton Park after penning Debutants a new deal at the club earlier this year. Several LFE apprentices have made their first team debuts already this season. We take a look at a selection of those who’ve tasted the real thing... Josh Brownhill Preston North End Zack Kotwica, Bobby Dale Midfielder Brownhill grasped his chance during and Harry Williams an underwhelming Preston team performance Dan Rowe Cheltenham Town in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy (JPT) defeat against Oldham in October.