50 replies to this topic

[Lobbygobbler]

also its a case of having a structue in place.. for the club itself.. IIRC the academies have to be set up in a certain way as well, education the kids beyond just how to play RL, a case of getting them set for life after RL or if it doesnt work out etc which is a good thing..

but an u18 academy is not the sole reference for a sl franchise as a stadium is not the sole reference.. it is part of a greater whole.. if Leigh dont believe they need an academy becuase the amateur youth sorts it all out then that is absolutely fine its 1 point.. there are 9 others to aim for.. you ony need aabout 5 to be up towards the top of the tree for a liscence.. but the other bits need to be good. its horses for courses..

Not sure if Leigh still have an academy but they did have one for a long time. Nevertheless not all young lads in Leigh want to play in the academy, BECAUSE the set-up at the amatuer clubs in Leigh are superb. Leigh RLFC are working with those amateur clubs now, but the pro club won't be able to "claim" these youngsters as part of franchising even if they are born and bred in Leigh and Leigh RLFC have played a part in the schools set up etc

On the other hand moneybags Wire could come in, snare a good young Leyther up from Leigh Miners with ££££ and stick him in their academy. That guy will then be deemed to be a Wire youngster - what a load of fecking guff

I don't like the concept of academies below a certain age, say under 20/21, because they are dear to run and also perhaps detract from the enjoyment of amateur set-ups.

[RP London]

Not sure if Leigh still have an academy but they did have one for a long time. Nevertheless not all young lads in Leigh want to play in the academy, BECAUSE the set-up at the amatuer clubs in Leigh are superb. Leigh RLFC are working with those amateur clubs now, but the pro club won't be able to "claim" these youngsters as part of franchising even if they are born and bred in Leigh and Leigh RLFC have played a part in the schools set up etc

On the other hand moneybags Wire could come in, snare a good young Leyther up from Leigh Miners with ££££ and stick him in their academy. That guy will then be deemed to be a Wire youngster - what a load of fecking guff

I don't like the concept of academies below a certain age, say under 20/21, because they are dear to run and also perhaps detract from the enjoyment of amateur set-ups.

i'm sure not all young lads want to.. but thats not the point.. academies dont always have the best kids in them becuase kids develop at different speeds etc.. but it is something very important to ave in place it also allows kids who may need to normally leave school and just get a job to continue and further their education something thy may not have had the chance to do.. its more than just the rugby at these academies..

as for the moneybags.. it happens in football as well.. money talks and that is just the way that it goes sadly thee is very little you cn do about it..

Saitn Toppy: i could have sworn it wasa franchise point for having an acadmey structure up to standard xyz but i may well be wrong..

[Lobbygobbler]

i'm sure not all young lads want to.. but thats not the point.. academies dont always have the best kids in them becuase kids develop at different speeds etc.. but it is something very important to ave in place it also allows kids who may need to normally leave school and just get a job to continue and further their education something thy may not have had the chance to do.. its more than just the rugby at these academies..

as for the moneybags.. it happens in football as well.. money talks and that is just the way that it goes sadly thee is very little you cn do about it..

Saitn Toppy: i could have sworn it wasa franchise point for having an acadmey structure up to standard xyz but i may well be wrong..

I know what you are saying, but I feel a full range of academies at Leigh could either bankrupt the club and could also disrupt amateur youth set-ups

Perhaps academies at all 30-odd clubs should be protected funding with sky money?

[RP London]

I know what you are saying, but I feel a full range of academies at Leigh could either bankrupt the club and could also disrupt amateur youth set-ups

Perhaps academies at all 30-odd clubs should be protected funding with sky money?

probelm is wth "protected funing with sky money" is that if you protect x amount then that is just simply x amount that clubs are given for the acadmey rather than being allowed to spend it on what they like.. which is fie and makes sure that academies are funded but it wont save the club from bankruptcy becuase if it worries you that diverting x amount wto the academy will bankrupt the club then all you are doing by "protected funding" is saying you HAVE to divert x to the academy but now you are getting funding-x from sky for the rest of te club.. so it goes bankrup.. if they cannot survive with out the money that an academy costs then it doesnt matter if it is protected funding or not you still go bankrupt.it would be the same moeny but you would be forced to move it around rather than doing it by choice.

disrupt amateur youth set ups.. does it everywhere else there is a youth academy? maybe it does i dont know but i would be suprised.

[mick wilson]

Apparently No 12 is Adam Lawton, and he is almost 17 !

What part of Furness is h from exactly

Good video, thanks.

[audois]

I understand that both the Catalans and the Crusaders will participate in the C Group playing home and away - 8 matches - against Hull FC, Huddersfield and Salford starting from next month. The Catalans played four friendly matches last year at this age group so real progress for them here.

[Bulletproof]

What part of Furness is h from exactly

Good video, thanks.

He is from Widnes, played for the Widnes St Maries amateur team. Seems to be a lot of the old green eyed monster going around about our youth team. Leigh bemoaning the fact that unconnected amateur sides in the region don't count (even though we have plenty of those) and Barrow actually setting one up this year to follow in our footsteps. Hope you wont simply be poaching the hell out of workington, that would be low.

[bowes]

There's very few players from Workington to poach, Maryport's the real hotbed in their area

[mick wilson]

Seems to be a lot of the old green eyed monster going around about our youth team.
Barrow actually setting one up this year to follow in our footsteps.
Hope you wont simply be poaching the hell out of workington, that would be low.

1, Really, who ?
2, Just evolving the club.
3, Considering the number of Barrow kids travelling up the coast on their own time and at great expense 2 or 3 nights per week, I think plenty would sign up with their home town club once they form their own Academy, Nothing low about it, plain comonsense.

0/10

[Viking Warrior]

why has this thread degenerated into a slanging match? surely the prowess of the widnes kids is something we can all be proud of, it just shows that youth development is the way forward for ALL clubs not just the top flight.

[The Parksider]

1. why has this thread degenerated into a slanging match?

2. surely the prowess of the widnes kids is something we can all be proud of, it just shows that youth development is the way forward for ALL clubs not just the top flight.

Because the likes of Bulletproof and you (having a go at Bradford's academy set up) are crowing away because the Widnes academy is doing well.

Academies are full of players that don't make it and only the odd player each season feeds into the SL squads. The standard academy is played at is quite low according to a number of professional coaches, so Widnes doing well in the academy won't neccessarily translate to them doing well in SL.

You two eh? (Or you one )

[Viking Warrior]

Because the likes of Bulletproof and you (having a go at Bradford's academy set up) are crowing away because the Widnes academy is doing well.

Academies are full of players that don't make it and only the odd player each season feeds into the SL squads. The standard academy is played at is quite low according to a number of professional coaches, so Widnes doing well in the academy won't neccessarily translate to them doing well in SL.

You two eh? (Or you one )

having a go at the bradord academy? surely it was about signing a rd rate aussie scrum half.

did i mention us doing well in super league? all widnes fans have been proud of our academy for years now. ok most kids don't make it but its worth it when you find a richie myler sam tompkins or kyle eastmond

[The Parksider]

all widnes fans have been proud of our academy for years now.

As everyone on this forum probably is. I still like to make a list of the Widnes local products 1970-1990. You can get a whole great britain team out of that.

Hope it goes back to that level VW.....

[Viking Warrior]

As everyone on this forum probably is. I still like to make a list of the Widnes local products 1970-1990. You can get a whole great britain team out of that.

Hope it goes back to that level VW.....

so do i parky, even after the vaughan disaster the fans priority was to keep the academy going. youth development should be paramount for every club not just a few.

[Bomb Jack]

The 18's have just completed the double over Leeds, beating them 32-20. They also beat Saints last week. I think that's about 7 wins on the bounce for them. Things are looking good.

It's a pity the First Team arn't doing as well ( although we have put our money into the Junior Structures rather than the First Team )

[1976PMJwires]

The 18's have just completed the double over Leeds, beating them 32-20. They also beat Saints last week. I think that's about 7 wins on the bounce for them. Things are looking good.

It's a pity the First Team arn't doing as well ( although we have put our money into the Junior Structures rather than the First Team )

Your first team are in a final tomorrow!! What more do you want????

The investment in the younger players is great and long may in continue, lets hope you get SL status or having these kids will mean you lose them if your a championship side

[Johnny Rocco]

Widnes u18's 30 Hull KR u18s 22

Thats 3 from 3 in this phase of the season for the Vikings!

[Emosi Koloto]

I hope they get a couple of players in the England Academy side, imo Alex Gerrard and Tom Kelly must be a chance of making the squad.

Adam Lawton is a year younger so he might get his chance next season.

[Bomb Jack]

I hope they get a couple of players in the England Academy side, imo Alex Gerrard and Tom Kelly must be a chance of making the squad.

I thought the Squad had alreay been announced, with no Vikings players included ?

[Red Willow]

I don't understand the bitterness that these threads decend into.

Widnes are a hotbed of RL and are doing great work in maintaining this and therefore should be commended.

Fans posting that this should mean a licence is as daft a lobby suggesting Leigh get one for the shape of the stadium.

Widnes are building and have some great points towards a bid, the on field performance this season isn't what they would want but then others have weaknesses as well.


Why can't we just celebrate and leae it at that. We are too quick to run our sport down.