CLUB SIGN NEW BREED OF YOUTH CROP

Future of the club

The Club's Academy has signed seven schoolboy Bluebirds onto new two-year apprenticeships this past week. Academy Operations Manager Anthony Redwood takes up the story below:

"This coming season will see a great overhaul in Youth Development across the country as a result of the new Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP). Cardiff City has committed to Category 2 Status and we expect official confirmation from the Football League in the coming weeks.

"We have retained a total of seven schoolboy players who have this week signed Apprenticeship contracts. In addition, four of our current U18 squad will embark on the two-year Apprenticeship programme.

"It is most pleasing that almost all of the eleven players reside within the locality of the Club and have progressed through our schoolboy system. They now have a great opportunity to realise their potential and their dream of becoming a professional footballer at Cardiff City Football Club. It is certainly an exciting time to be involved with the Club and the Academy."

THE NEW BREED - CARDIFF CITY u18 SIDE, 2012/13

JAYE BOWEN: A clever, quick-thinking midfielder who was unfortunate with injuries last term. Always smiling, Jaye is a great character to have around and will hopefully follow in his father (Jason's) footsteps by playing for the first team. With a further two years at u18 level, Jaye will now be looking to establish himself in the u18 squad this season.

YORA ENZAM: Congo-born Yora is a pacey centre-forward who contributed greatly to our successful u16 2011/12 campaign. Yora has the ability to take on board information and should benefit significantly from full-time training at Glamorgan Sports Park.

THOMAS JAMES: Tom had a very impressive u16 season and has really progressed over the past twelve months. He can play in either full-back position and has also shown composure when covering in the centre of defence. A very shy and retiring character with an admirable attitude and dedication to his career.

LIAM MATTHEWS: Seventeen year-old Swansea-born Liam has been with the Club throughout his schoolboy years and shared hoalkeeping duties with David Richards last season. With specific full-time training on a daily basis working with Lee Kendall, he is looking to establish his place in the u18 team this season and emulate the success of cousin Adam.

THOMAS O'SULLIVAN: Highly-rated Tommy has recently put pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Club after a string of impressive performances during 2011/12. He has also appeared a number of times in u21 games and led by example with his attitude and application. An energetic, clever and creative central midfielder, Tommy has all the attributes to become a top footballer.

TYLER ROCHE: Bridgend-born Tyler is an exciting wide player who can beat any defender on his day with quick feet and explosive pace. A very modest, unassuming individual who will add a new dimension to our attacking play this year.

MACAULEY SOUTHAM: 'Macca' is a Cardiff lad who can play a number of positions in midfield and has an ability to find good areas on the pitch and make himself available. One of a number of our new Apprentices who enjoyed a successful u16 campaign last season.

BEN WATKINS: Ben is a whole-hearted, 100% midfielder who shows commitment in everything he does, both on and off the pitch. He has already played a number of games at u18 level and his ball-winning, tenacity and determination will add strength to our midfield.

CURTIS WATKINS: A highly-rated central defender who represented his country in the Victory Shield last year. Curtis shows athleticism and composure whenever he plays and has always proved himself to cope well with strikers at u9-u16 level. Curtis will undoubtedly relish the opportunity to tackle the physical element of u18s football this season.

BRADLEY WICKHAM: Another modest and humble character who shows a quiet confidence whenever he plays. A very solid, consistent full-back who is always reliable and dependable. We are also told he is a bit of a bright spark, so will no doubt excel at the academic element of the Apprenticeship programme!

BRADLEY WILLIAMS: Hereford-born Brad is one of the elder statesmen of the squad, now entering his second year with the u18s. A solid and physical central midfielder who is a presence on the pitch and a good character off it.

http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/New ... 24,00.html

The future is bright what ever colour it is

Must be fair to the club this has to be the way forward for all clubs. My concern is that Premier clubs can rape lower division clubs stealing the youth for themselves. I don'tknow the new rules but as we are Cat2 does this mean our youth stay with the club?

I believe in this policy and donate to the club on a monthly basis. I would urge you all to donate a couple of quid so the youth section can thrive andgo forwardto producethe future of our club.

well done guys. future stars in the making

well done guys. future stars in the making

Cardiff City know players with potential. Well done guys! Work hard and you'll get what you set your sights on!

ive seen a lot of these boys play regular and tommy o sullivan is a gem ....well done lads .

The future is bright what ever colour it is

Gwyn,
as long as the money's there to pay for it ! - and this investment doesn't come cheap. It is fantastic though that after all the years of neglect and non-investment that things are starting to happen.

The future is bright what ever colour it is

Gwyn,
as long as the money's there to pay for it ! - and this investment doesn't come cheap. It is fantastic though that after all the years of neglect and non-investment that things are starting to happen.

It really is a case of money makes money, when you skint you can't properly fund youth development and the lose out on the promising youngsters and the money they could bring, it a bit catch 22.

The future is bright what ever colour it is

Gwyn,
as long as the money's there to pay for it ! - and this investment doesn't come cheap. It is fantastic though that after all the years of neglect and non-investment that things are starting to happen.

It really is a case of money makes money, when you skint you can't properly fund youth development and the lose out on the promising youngsters and the money they could bring, it a bit catch 22.

Exactly - this is the business rationale and who's funding it?

The future is bright what ever colour it is

Gwyn,
as long as the money's there to pay for it ! - and this investment doesn't come cheap. It is fantastic though that after all the years of neglect and non-investment that things are starting to happen.

It really is a case of money makes money, when you skint you can't properly fund youth development and the lose out on the promising youngsters and the money they could bring, it a bit catch 22.

Exactly - this is the business rationale and who's funding it?

Who originally started our Academy(proper one) and funded it for years ?

The future is bright what ever colour it is

Gwyn,
as long as the money's there to pay for it ! - and this investment doesn't come cheap. It is fantastic though that after all the years of neglect and non-investment that things are starting to happen.

It really is a case of money makes money, when you skint you can't properly fund youth development and the lose out on the promising youngsters and the money they could bring, it a bit catch 22.

Exactly - this is the business rationale and who's funding it?

Who originally started our Academy(proper one) and funded it for years ?

exactly, a long term plan and slated for spending money on it, mad.

The future is bright what ever colour it is

Gwyn,
as long as the money's there to pay for it ! - and this investment doesn't come cheap. It is fantastic though that after all the years of neglect and non-investment that things are starting to happen.

It really is a case of money makes money, when you skint you can't properly fund youth development and the lose out on the promising youngsters and the money they could bring, it a bit catch 22.

Exactly - this is the business rationale and who's funding it?

Who originally started our Academy(proper one) and funded it for years ?

exactly, a long term plan and slated for spending money on it, mad.

Gwyn,, u never answered the question though ?

The future is bright what ever colour it is

Gwyn,
as long as the money's there to pay for it ! - and this investment doesn't come cheap. It is fantastic though that after all the years of neglect and non-investment that things are starting to happen.

It really is a case of money makes money, when you skint you can't properly fund youth development and the lose out on the promising youngsters and the money they could bring, it a bit catch 22.

Exactly - this is the business rationale and who's funding it?

Who originally started our Academy(proper one) and funded it for years ?

I presume you mean Sam who I agree to be fair did make a start with the Academy although the very best outputs were either in the system already (Ramsay/Mathews) or brought in ( Jerome ) and it hasn't produced much since. Not griping though as Sam could see the business value in growing young talent into the first team and selling on as neccessary. As I recall he often made this point.Whatever money went in was however Citygroup/Langston debt as opposed to 'internal debt' and it was only a start. Jones attitude (Nalor £13k pw!?/Ridsdale and the reality of being bust obviously screwed things up but from what I now see with the new facility at Treforest, new structure, new status about to be secured etc we are now in a different league.And it has to be paid for.

Awesome news. I am really passionate about this part of our club and this is the purity of football that's diminishing from the modern game. Good luck bluebirds hope to see you in the first team soon!

jaye bowen is a good player aswell

At last some encouraging messages.... Let's not let another Gareth Bale slip through our net.

It wasn't Sam who started it all off. The players were already at the club when Sam came in. The person who started it all is GAVIN TAIT. The best coach I have ever seen and worked with, and I've worked with so called top coaches. Gavin tait shaped the coaching of the club in the youth ages. City also had kev Parkins, matt Crocker who took over from gav tait. Both tait and crocker ended at southampton. The club would have seen a lot more youngsters in the first team but the delevopment of the yts/apprentice lads were ruined buy the terrible training they received by the jack, Colin pascoe.... Although Sam definitely noticed the youth needed to be utilised more, gavin tait sorted out the youth from top to bottom and had some cracking coaches in place from, u9s to u16s, so when he left the style of play and blueprint was already in place. Crocker just sensibly left it like it was. Why pascoe was youth team manager nobody knows as the guys a joke and killed off years of possible talent.

spot on ramstein blue and yes tait was an excellent coach as you say