' Weve been warning & saying about the Jacks '

Don't worry about them swings and roundabouts when we were the top club we had them everywhere they got the upper hand know but it can easily change .nice to see there's no jack academy in port talbot port talbot is blue

Maybe if you keep saying it, you will eventually believe it. The reality is still that many older heads are blue however the majority of the younger population are jacks, you go on the prom and count how many youngsters you will see with swansea tops on and it may alarm you. And I've just added a jack with the birth of my son

Does not alarm me at all don't forget it's only ten miles to swansea from port talbot so you will see more kids with jack tops on cardiff fans down here have always been quiet conservative in the fact that they have never gone round wearing there cardiff tops a lot of people down here swear they are jacks but we all know a lot of them never go to the Liberty but you got to understand kids will follow a team whose doing the better at this moment it's the jacks but has i said before things can change

Cardiff need to start taking control and if and I mean if Tan wants our club to succeed he needs to get his staff in to action.
Even kids in places like Marshfield by me,Swansea have recruited them and you now see Jack shirts on kids

IRELAND, CARDIFF, BRISTOL…SWANSEA’S YOUTH RECRUITMENT CONTINUES TO EXPAND


By: Scott Mackayon:

Sat July 11, 2015

This week we saw the official announcement of the Swans’ link with Merthyr Town’s academy – the latest in a string of positive moves from the club’s youth development program.

Merthyr, an area which has traditionally seen a lot of support for the Swans’ rivals Cardiff, have recently risen from the ashes thanks to supporter involvement and are now an entirely fan-owned club.

Having won the Evo-Stik League Southern Division 1 (South and West) title last season just five seasons after being expelled following liquidation, they’re now set to play in the Southern League Premier Division next season, and are understandably keen to build links with a Premier League side.

The link up with the Swans will see two sessions a week held with the assistance of Swans’ Academy coaches, and academy manager Nigel Rees is confident the partnership will be good for all involved:

“Areas like Merthyr have an abundance of talent. We hope this partnership can help develop more young players who will hopefully go on to have a career in football with the ultimate goal of playing at a professional level.

“We want to support academies like Merthyr and develop their coaching programme in line with the Swansea way. The enthusiasm for this partnership is clear to see at Merthyr Town, and we have had a very warm welcome from players, staff and parents.”

Source
It’s not just Merthyr that’s set to learn the Swansea way though. Plans go much further. As revealed at the beginning of June we’re also now opening three development centres in Ireland & Northern Ireland (Cork, Dublin & Belfast), and Swansea Academy’s head of recruitment Martin Evans is excited about the potential the link-up offers

“We see Ireland as an area that has a lot of potential for us. The big clubs are increasingly looking to Africa and other far off places and tending to neglect Ireland a bit. We feel there’s potential for us to work there, there’s talent and it’s a good fit, there’s that Celtic connection. We’ve brought a few lads over from Ireland recently and they’re happy to come to us.”
While other clubs may be happy regularly spending big, that’s not the plan for the Swans. Highly rated youngster Stephen Fallon is just one player who has already been brought over from Ireland, and by bringing players through young, and developing a conveyor belt of talent, Evans is hopeful we can compete with clubs who have much, much more disposable income:

“That’s the philosophy. Only a couple of the regulars in the senior squad are Welsh but that’s why the club is spending all the money, we want to produce our own lads and retain a local flavour to the team.”

“The players are coming through together and that’s a good thing. We used to lose a few to the big English clubs but that’s rare now really. Here at Swansea we have Category One status now which means that the teams will be playing against the very best sides, the Arsenal’s and Chelsea’s, all the way up from the age of nine.

“We have a great facility and well-qualified coaches so why would anyone go to England really when they can get the football education they need here at home.”

Source
You could be forgiven for thinking that with work ongoing to further develop the Landore & Fairwood sites, plus burgeoning links with Merthyr and Ireland, that’d be enough for the Swans to get on with. It doesn’t end there though.

The Swans now have development centres dotted around Wales, and have even crossed the Severn Bridge and set one up in Bristol. Here’s a full list of the Swans’ youth development centres from the academy website:

Swans Academy

Landore Training Ground, Beaufort Road, Plasmarl, Swansea, South Wales SA6 8AX

Cwmdu Development Centre

Swans Development Centre, Cwmdu Industrial Estate, Carmarthen Road, Swansea SA5 8JF

Pontardawe Development Centre

Pontardawe Leisure Centre, Parc Ynysderw, Ffordd Parc Ynysderw, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 4EG

Haverfordwest Development Centre

Tasker-Milward V.C. School, Portfield Avenue, Portfield, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA61 1EQ

Cambrian Development Centre

Cambrian Sports Academy, Kings George V New Field, Clydach Vale CF40 2XX

Aberystwyth Development Centre

Aberystwyth University, Blaendolau Playing Fields SY23 3FL

Bridgend Development Centre

Bryntirion Park, Llangewydd Road, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan CF31 4JU

Fairwood Development Centre Address:

Fairwood Training Ground, Swansea SA2 7JX

Carmarthen Development Centre

Carmarthen Leisure Centre, Llansteffan Road, Carmarthen SA31 3NQ

Treorchy Development Centre

Sports Yard Ltd, Ynyswen Industrial Estate, Treorchy, Mid Glamorgan CF42 6EP

Aberdare Development Centre

Sobell Sport Centre, The Ynys, Aberdare, CF44 7RP

Lampeter Development Centre

Lampeter Leisure Centre, Peterwell Terrace, Lampeter, Dyfed, SA48 7BX

Bristol Development Centre

Clifton College, Guthrie Road, Bristol BS8 3EZ

For a club which had literally no facilities a decade ago we’re certainly making dramatic inroads now. Here are the sites plotted on a map, to give you an idea of how far we’re now spreading our net.

Swans Development Centre Swansea City

Seen like that it really is telling how much we’re expanding, and how quickly. If this is how much we’ve expanded in the last ten years (probably the last five years if we’re being honest, as the club’s expansion began in earnest with promotion to the Premier League), I can’t wait to see how the youth network looks in ten years time.

What's the problem ?
If we don't give our youth system a chance then what's the point
You can see our club would rather spend it's money in other areas or not spend it at all. Remember we are in debt and in the championship when Swansea are in the premiership .

Thing is if there wasnt such a negative adgenda against vincent tan and the club we wouldnt see a thread like this.. f**k swansea im sure ccfc r doing their youth recruitment and we will get another ramsey soon

there was a kid playing for blackburn under 21 v southampton u21 in the premier cup final.sam jones .one of yours who was allowed to leave

The jacks were in merthyr today and were beaten 3-1 by merthyr

yes against the U18's hell of a result

Jacks have 4x our income.
Nothing for them to spend £1m on academies.

You can moan all you want, but until we are playing at the same level then we won't be able to compete in terms of spending on academies.

If you want it to change, buy tickets for the games and support the team, also be positive and make it a place where others want to go rather than avoid due to the miserable negativity that so many of our fans seem to love.

Absolutely this!

Totally, absolutely this

Happened in the early 80's, kids always want to be associated with the best, and Swansea are that at the moment, as they were then.

Still wouldnt swap with them tho, shit town, some ok people, too many nimrods.

the jacks have got everything right.......our lot are a clueless bunch of nuggets....simple as that ..

Cardiff need to start taking control and if and I mean if Tan wants our club to succeed he needs to get his staff in to action.
Even kids in places like Marshfield by me,Swansea have recruited them and you now see Jack shirts on kids

IRELAND, CARDIFF, BRISTOL…SWANSEA’S YOUTH RECRUITMENT CONTINUES TO EXPAND


By: Scott Mackayon:

Sat July 11, 2015

This week we saw the official announcement of the Swans’ link with Merthyr Town’s academy – the latest in a string of positive moves from the club’s youth development program.

Merthyr, an area which has traditionally seen a lot of support for the Swans’ rivals Cardiff, have recently risen from the ashes thanks to supporter involvement and are now an entirely fan-owned club.

Having won the Evo-Stik League Southern Division 1 (South and West) title last season just five seasons after being expelled following liquidation, they’re now set to play in the Southern League Premier Division next season, and are understandably keen to build links with a Premier League side.
Don't see one in port talbot we always be blue in port talbot
The link up with the Swans will see two sessions a week held with the assistance of Swans’ Academy coaches, and academy manager Nigel Rees is confident the partnership will be good for all involved:

“Areas like Merthyr have an abundance of talent. We hope this partnership can help develop more young players who will hopefully go on to have a career in football with the ultimate goal of playing at a professional level.

“We want to support academies like Merthyr and develop their coaching programme in line with the Swansea way. The enthusiasm for this partnership is clear to see at Merthyr Town, and we have had a very warm welcome from players, staff and parents.”

Source
It’s not just Merthyr that’s set to learn the Swansea way though. Plans go much further. As revealed at the beginning of June we’re also now opening three development centres in Ireland & Northern Ireland (Cork, Dublin & Belfast), and Swansea Academy’s head of recruitment Martin Evans is excited about the potential the link-up offers

“We see Ireland as an area that has a lot of potential for us. The big clubs are increasingly looking to Africa and other far off places and tending to neglect Ireland a bit. We feel there’s potential for us to work there, there’s talent and it’s a good fit, there’s that Celtic connection. We’ve brought a few lads over from Ireland recently and they’re happy to come to us.”
While other clubs may be happy regularly spending big, that’s not the plan for the Swans. Highly rated youngster Stephen Fallon is just one player who has already been brought over from Ireland, and by bringing players through young, and developing a conveyor belt of talent, Evans is hopeful we can compete with clubs who have much, much more disposable income:

“That’s the philosophy. Only a couple of the regulars in the senior squad are Welsh but that’s why the club is spending all the money, we want to produce our own lads and retain a local flavour to the team.”

“The players are coming through together and that’s a good thing. We used to lose a few to the big English clubs but that’s rare now really. Here at Swansea we have Category One status now which means that the teams will be playing against the very best sides, the Arsenal’s and Chelsea’s, all the way up from the age of nine.

“We have a great facility and well-qualified coaches so why would anyone go to England really when they can get the football education they need here at home.”

Source
You could be forgiven for thinking that with work ongoing to further develop the Landore & Fairwood sites, plus burgeoning links with Merthyr and Ireland, that’d be enough for the Swans to get on with. It doesn’t end there though.

The Swans now have development centres dotted around Wales, and have even crossed the Severn Bridge and set one up in Bristol. Here’s a full list of the Swans’ youth development centres from the academy website:

Swans Academy

Landore Training Ground, Beaufort Road, Plasmarl, Swansea, South Wales SA6 8AX

Cwmdu Development Centre

Swans Development Centre, Cwmdu Industrial Estate, Carmarthen Road, Swansea SA5 8JF

Pontardawe Development Centre

Pontardawe Leisure Centre, Parc Ynysderw, Ffordd Parc Ynysderw, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 4EG

Haverfordwest Development Centre

Tasker-Milward V.C. School, Portfield Avenue, Portfield, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire SA61 1EQ

Cambrian Development Centre

Cambrian Sports Academy, Kings George V New Field, Clydach Vale CF40 2XX

Aberystwyth Development Centre

Aberystwyth University, Blaendolau Playing Fields SY23 3FL

Bridgend Development Centre

Bryntirion Park, Llangewydd Road, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan CF31 4JU

Fairwood Development Centre Address:

Fairwood Training Ground, Swansea SA2 7JX

Carmarthen Development Centre

Carmarthen Leisure Centre, Llansteffan Road, Carmarthen SA31 3NQ

Treorchy Development Centre

Sports Yard Ltd, Ynyswen Industrial Estate, Treorchy, Mid Glamorgan CF42 6EP

Aberdare Development Centre

Sobell Sport Centre, The Ynys, Aberdare, CF44 7RP

Lampeter Development Centre

Lampeter Leisure Centre, Peterwell Terrace, Lampeter, Dyfed, SA48 7BX

Bristol Development Centre

Clifton College, Guthrie Road, Bristol BS8 3EZ

For a club which had literally no facilities a decade ago we’re certainly making dramatic inroads now. Here are the sites plotted on a map, to give you an idea of how far we’re now spreading our net.

Swans Development Centre Swansea City

Seen like that it really is telling how much we’re expanding, and how quickly. If this is how much we’ve expanded in the last ten years (probably the last five years if we’re being honest, as the club’s expansion began in earnest with promotion to the Premier League), I can’t wait to see how the youth network looks in ten years time.

WOW! They have taken over the world by sounds of it? Why 2 centres in such a small town like hwest!! Also must have largest amount of coaches in UK? They are making lots cash on back of enticing wannaby premier players, but in reality only 0.0001% will make it the rest just trained by local Joe bloggs under guise of SCFC coach!! And probably costing £10 a time for privalage? Surely quality is better than quantity?? But fair play can't fault them for doing it we could take a leaf out of their books!

Can't see Cardiff centres in list or did I miss it?

The jacks were in merthyr today and were beaten 3-1 by merthyr

yes against the U18's hell of a result

I think you will find it was the u-21s and yes it was a good result by a team of part timers against supposedly the crop of u-21 talent in s wales

Happened in the early 80's, kids always want to be associated with the best, and Swansea are that at the moment, as they were then.

Still wouldnt swap with them tho, shit town, some ok people, too many nimrods.

I have two boys and both are City through and through, they would both rather give up football than play for Swansea. If as a parent you support and bring up your kids supporting a particular team i.e Cardiff your kids will do the same.

If you live in Cardiff and your OK with your kid signing up for Swansea then you are not a Cardiff supporter and Swansea are welcome to you

I would rather just have the kids passionate about CCFC in our academy and i believe there is young talent out there who would not entertain playing anywhere else.

Happened in the early 80's, kids always want to be associated with the best, and Swansea are that at the moment, as they were then.

Still wouldnt swap with them tho, shit town, some ok people, too many nimrods.

I have two boys and both are City through and through, they would both rather give up football than play for Swansea. If as a parent you support and bring up your kids supporting a particular team i.e Cardiff your kids will do the same.

If you live in Cardiff and your OK with your kid signing up for Swansea then you are not a Cardiff supporter and Swansea are welcome to you

I would rather just have the kids passionate about CCFC in our academy and i believe there is young talent out there who would not entertain playing anywhere else.

so you wouldnt give your child the oppurtunity to maybe have a career in a sport they love.....my son played for cardiff city development....he trialled for the accademy but simply blew it......nerves...cardiff then decided to merge 3 developments and put them into 1....so opening up the oppurtunity for a club like swansea to expand their network.....it just shows Cardiffs blinkered approach to future home grown talent...

Happened in the early 80's, kids always want to be associated with the best, and Swansea are that at the moment, as they were then.

Still wouldnt swap with them tho, shit town, some ok people, too many nimrods.

I have two boys and both are City through and through, they would both rather give up football than play for Swansea. If as a parent you support and bring up your kids supporting a particular team i.e Cardiff your kids will do the same.

If you live in Cardiff and your OK with your kid signing up for Swansea then you are not a Cardiff supporter and Swansea are welcome to you

I would rather just have the kids passionate about CCFC in our academy and i believe there is young talent out there who would not entertain playing anywhere else.

so you wouldnt give your child the oppurtunity to maybe have a career in a sport they love.....my son played for cardiff city development....he trialled for the accademy but simply blew it......nerves...cardiff then decided to merge 3 developments and put them into 1....so opening up the oppurtunity for a club like swansea to expand their network.....it just shows Cardiffs blinkered approach to future home grown talent...

I have supported both my boys and taken every opportunity that has come there way with both excelling in every sport they have participated in. But to answer your question regarding Swansea - Honestly mate, hand on heart 'NO' and i know for a fact if my boys were approached by Swansea they would both decline. Both my boys have played at Academy level and as already mentioned the percentage of those that will actually go on and make it is minimal. If your son is good enough, he will be noticed and progress regardless of which Academy he plays for.

Swansea are obviously happy to take anyone that can kick a ball, its a business like everything else. There Academies will be structured and 95% of those playing will be in no more than run of the mill training training schools with gullible parents paying over the odds just to be associated with a Premiership outfit.

If your child is GENUINELY good enough, he will be scouted by Cardiff, Swansea and much further afield. Given those choices for me Swansea would not even make the bottom of my list.

Happened in the early 80's, kids always want to be associated with the best, and Swansea are that at the moment, as they were then.

Still wouldnt swap with them tho, shit town, some ok people, too many nimrods.

I have two boys and both are City through and through, they would both rather give up football than play for Swansea. If as a parent you support and bring up your kids supporting a particular team i.e Cardiff your kids will do the same.

If you live in Cardiff and your OK with your kid signing up for Swansea then you are not a Cardiff supporter and Swansea are welcome to you

I would rather just have the kids passionate about CCFC in our academy and i believe there is young talent out there who would not entertain playing anywhere else.

so you wouldnt give your child the oppurtunity to maybe have a career in a sport they love.....my son played for cardiff city development....he trialled for the accademy but simply blew it......nerves...cardiff then decided to merge 3 developments and put them into 1....so opening up the oppurtunity for a club like swansea to expand their network.....it just shows Cardiffs blinkered approach to future home grown talent...

I have supported both my boys and taken every opportunity that has come there way with both excelling in every sport they have participated in. But to answer your question regarding Swansea - Honestly mate, hand on heart 'NO' and i know for a fact if my boys were approached by Swansea they would both decline. Both my boys have played at Academy level and as already mentioned the percentage of those that will actually go on and make it is minimal. If your son is good enough, he will be noticed and progress regardless of which Academy he plays for.

Swansea are obviously happy to take anyone that can kick a ball, its a business like everything else. There Academies will be structured and 95% of those playing will be in no more than run of the mill training training schools with gullible parents paying over the odds just to be associated with a Premiership outfit.

If your child is GENUINELY good enough, he will be scouted by Cardiff, Swansea and much further afield. Given those choices for me Swansea would not even make the bottom of my list.

money making spot on and i know 1 in a 10,000 will make any money in football....let alone a living....but my point was Cardiff gave away areas that swansea are only to happy to exploit.....and as i said ...cardiff as a marketing product is run by out of touch nuggets.....

Happened in the early 80's, kids always want to be associated with the best, and Swansea are that at the moment, as they were then.

Still wouldnt swap with them tho, shit town, some ok people, too many nimrods.

I have two boys and both are City through and through, they would both rather give up football than play for Swansea. If as a parent you support and bring up your kids supporting a particular team i.e Cardiff your kids will do the same.

If you live in Cardiff and your OK with your kid signing up for Swansea then you are not a Cardiff supporter and Swansea are welcome to you

I would rather just have the kids passionate about CCFC in our academy and i believe there is young talent out there who would not entertain playing anywhere else.

so you wouldnt give your child the oppurtunity to maybe have a career in a sport they love.....my son played for cardiff city development....he trialled for the accademy but simply blew it......nerves...cardiff then decided to merge 3 developments and put them into 1....so opening up the oppurtunity for a club like swansea to expand their network.....it just shows Cardiffs blinkered approach to future home grown talent...

I have supported both my boys and taken every opportunity that has come there way with both excelling in every sport they have participated in. But to answer your question regarding Swansea - Honestly mate, hand on heart 'NO' and i know for a fact if my boys were approached by Swansea they would both decline. Both my boys have played at Academy level and as already mentioned the percentage of those that will actually go on and make it is minimal. If your son is good enough, he will be noticed and progress regardless of which Academy he plays for.

Swansea are obviously happy to take anyone that can kick a ball, its a business like everything else. There Academies will be structured and 95% of those playing will be in no more than run of the mill training training schools with gullible parents paying over the odds just to be associated with a Premiership outfit.

If your child is GENUINELY good enough, he will be scouted by Cardiff, Swansea and much further afield. Given those choices for me Swansea would not even make the bottom of my list.

money making spot on and i know 1 in a 10,000 will make any money in football....let alone a living....but my point was Cardiff gave away areas that swansea are only to happy to exploit.....and as i said ...cardiff as a marketing product is run by out of touch nuggets.....

City haven't given any area away! Swans entitled to go where they like, it's premier dream for kids that they are exploiting to make money like all premier clubs are doing!!

I think you will find that Swansea are more particular about who they take into the development centres than Cardiff. I see Cardiff as the ones doing it to make money not Swansea.
There are development centres for Cardiff with 28 boys for a certain age group. With probably less than half that should be there.
Swansea however, do not have anywhere near that. In one age group in Fairwood there are 12 players. When they play they invite a player or two in to take a look at them.
Plus they train for two hours on a Thursday and two hours on a Friday for £40 as opposed to Cardiff with is £30 for 1 and a half hours a week. So Swansea have less players for less money.
Yes, we are Cardiff season ticket holders so I am not Swansea bias. It's just sometimes we need to accept others are doing it better for now.
The payment is for a 6 week block.

I think you will find that Swansea are more particular about who they take into the developement centres than Cardiff. I see Cardiff as the ones doing it to make money not Swansea.
There are development centres for Cardiff with 28 boys for a certain age group. With probably less than half that should be there.
Swansea however, do not have anywhere near that. In one age group in Fairwood there are 12 players. When they play they invite a player or two in to take a look at them.
Plus they train for two hours on a Thursday and two hours on a Friday for £40 as opposed to Cardiff with is £30 for 1 and a half hours a week. So Swansea have less players for less money.
Yes, we are Cardiff season ticket holders so I am not Swansea bias. It's just sometimes we need to accept others are doing it better for now.
The payment is for a 6 week block.

Funny how there are conflicting information about their involvement in Cardiff areas ect ect! it ranges from total domination to what you say? If it's like you say then they are not as big a threat as made out! But cinic in me says it's about money but that's football particularly premier clubs!!

The development centres are about money I believe, but more from a Cardiff perspective as opposed to Swansea. Just my opinion. There is no way that there are 28 boys potentially good enough from one age group to step up to the academy.

I think you will find that Swansea are more particular about who they take into the development centres than Cardiff. I see Cardiff as the ones doing it to make money not Swansea.
There are development centres for Cardiff with 28 boys for a certain age group. With probably less than half that should be there.
Swansea however, do not have anywhere near that. In one age group in Fairwood there are 12 players. When they play they invite a player or two in to take a look at them.
Plus they train for two hours on a Thursday and two hours on a Friday for £40 as opposed to Cardiff with is £30 for 1 and a half hours a week. So Swansea have less players for less money.
Yes, we are Cardiff season ticket holders so I am not Swansea bias. It's just sometimes we need to accept others are doing it better for now.
The payment is for a 6 week block.

This is a fact ^, but on another point you need to separate the Academy from the Development Centres which are entirely different entities, the kids are invited to for a trail regardless of where they're from and only the ones with potential will be invited to sign and are then constantly reviewed throughout the season and if necessary released during it. and whether you believe me or not, the kids that I know who have been released are still playing football and enjoying it so the comments about how disappointed little Johnny is and won't kick a ball again is a myth. The Development centres/soccer schools are no different from any others of which there are plenty not just Swansea or Cardiff in the area and are will be there to make money and that includes Cardiff who keep their kids there for as long as possible therefore squeezing more money from parents , ask someone how quick the turnaround is for kids to come through into the Academy compared to Swansea , believe me it's slow . The Swansea squads are much smaller at each age group so rather than quantity it is quality. If you watch any games at Treforrest then you'll see what I mean when you see the size of the team squads .

Very well put. Totally agree with all you have said.

swansea academy squads are 16 players per age group including 2 keepers if a trailist comes in they get 6 weeks to be looked at then either released back into the development or kept in the academy 5 reviews a year cut xmas and may

Happened in the early 80's, kids always want to be associated with the best, and Swansea are that at the moment, as they were then.

Still wouldnt swap with them tho, shit town, some ok people, too many nimrods.

I have two boys and both are City through and through, they would both rather give up football than play for Swansea. If as a parent you support and bring up your kids supporting a particular team i.e Cardiff your kids will do the same.

If you live in Cardiff and your OK with your kid signing up for Swansea then you are not a Cardiff supporter and Swansea are welcome to you

I would rather just have the kids passionate about CCFC in our academy and i believe there is young talent out there who would not entertain playing anywhere else.

so you wouldnt give your child the oppurtunity to maybe have a career in a sport they love.....my son played for cardiff city development....he trialled for the accademy but simply blew it......nerves...cardiff then decided to merge 3 developments and put them into 1....so opening up the oppurtunity for a club like swansea to expand their network.....it just shows Cardiffs blinkered approach to future home grown talent...

I have supported both my boys and taken every opportunity that has come there way with both excelling in every sport they have participated in. But to answer your question regarding Swansea - Honestly mate, hand on heart 'NO' and i know for a fact if my boys were approached by Swansea they would both decline. Both my boys have played at Academy level and as already mentioned the percentage of those that will actually go on and make it is minimal. If your son is good enough, he will be noticed and progress regardless of which Academy he plays for.

Swansea are obviously happy to take anyone that can kick a ball, its a business like everything else. There Academies will be structured and 95% of those playing will be in no more than run of the mill training training schools with gullible parents paying over the odds just to be associated with a Premiership outfit.

If your child is GENUINELY good enough, he will be scouted by Cardiff, Swansea and much further afield. Given those choices for me Swansea would not even make the bottom of my list.

money making spot on and i know 1 in a 10,000 will make any money in football....let alone a living....but my point was Cardiff gave away areas that swansea are only to happy to exploit.....and as i said ...cardiff as a marketing product is run by out of touch nuggets.....

City haven't given any area away! Swans entitled to go where they like, it's premier dream for kids that they are exploiting to make money like all premier clubs are doing!!

yes they did....3 development centers became 1.....what part of that is not giving areas away......cowbridge was mainly the vale children and i think one in rhondda......i understand swansea can open where they like but with established centers chances are they wouldnt bother and if cardiff had a local center then children would not in my opinion join a swansea center....

cant believe ppl on here would not let there kid play for swansea cardiff are so good at spotting kids bellermy norwhich bale southampton great track record not

Tan wanted to focus on Malaysian kids and hasn't given a f**k about local youngsters

Tan wanted to focus on Malaysian kids and hasn't given a f**k about local youngsters

Yes but it probably was a cheaper option , although how it would have worked using predominately players from overseas I don't know

The jacks were in merthyr today and were beaten 3-1 by merthyr

yes against the U18's hell of a result

I think you will find it was the u-21s and yes it was a good result by a team of part timers against supposedly the crop of u-21 talent in s wales

Not strictly true , the majority of the 1st half team ( 2 different teams per half ) were last years U18's but so what. it was a pre season friendly designed to create bonds between the Clubs .

cant believe ppl on here would not let there kid play for swansea cardiff are so good at spotting kids bellermy norwhich bale southampton great track record not

It would genuinely break my heart to see either of my boys in a Swansea top so if either turn out good enough, they will make it without any help from the Jacks. and for this reason i cant believe people on a Cardiff City forum 'WOULD' let there kids play for Swansea. Part time supporters yes but for any fan with genuine love and passion for Cardiff, sorry no way no how.

cant believe ppl on here would not let there kid play for swansea cardiff are so good at spotting kids bellermy norwhich bale southampton great track record not

It would genuinely break my heart to see either of my boys in a Swansea top so if either turn out good enough, they will make it without any help from the Jacks. and for this reason i cant believe people on a Cardiff City forum 'WOULD' let there kids play for Swansea. Part time supporters yes but for any fan with genuine love and passion for Cardiff, sorry no way no how.

well been a season ticket holder for many years as has my grandson seen cardiff play in front of 1500 and 70 odd thousand so im not part time i support the kid not the club he was scouted by swansea not cardiff and when he scored for swansea v cardiff he done the ayatollah when we go to games boys who he played against talk to him seems the older generation have more hate than kids mind you playing against chelsea spurs arsenal hertha berlin slavia prauge along with a trip to poland cardiff etc what parent would deney there offspring that really

Tan wanted to focus on Malaysian kids and hasn't given a f**k about local youngsters

Yes but it probably was a cheaper option , although how it would have worked using predominately players from overseas I don't know

Surely it's an even more of a waste of money if you can't bring the kids into the UK in the first place surely ?