Keith Hill (Bolton)
Member
- Joined
- 2 May 2021
- Messages
- 860
- Player
- Ged Brennan, Big Steve McNulty,
- Manager
- Mickey Mellon, Johnny King.
I think you have missed a few who came through our academy, one is still playing at the top level, Aaron Cresswell. Koumas had a few years with West Bromwich Albion andThanks for writing my post for me, drw! All I would add is when I watched Liverpool in the sixties and seventies, they were packed with local lads and just as successful as today. Lawrence, Lawler, Byrne, Smith, Thompson P, Callaghan, Hunt, Melia et al - all internationals. Later on, Fowler, Carragher and Gerrard were exceptions to the rule.
EPL clubs can now afford the cream of world talent, leaving no room for local lads to develop unless they are exceptional and prodigious like TAA. The success rate of EPL development programmes is appalling and has gone backwards in my lifetime.
At the other end of the scale, Rovers used to have a steady stream of home-grown youngsters including McFarland, Coppell, Tynan, Irons, Mahon, Nolan, Thomas and Hill, who all moved on to the top division. The last three to come through our youth scheme to play more than a handful of games were Power, Stockton and Kirby. Since then, recruitment has largely been free transfers from other clubs.
So the big clubs and the top players have got a lot richer, while further down the pyramid players often face an annual battle to stay in a job and many clubs struggle to survive.
Then in the championship, Will Vaulks. (Cardiff).
Ince, (Stoke) Ash Taylor has played for a few clubs, even a certain loanee, George, who came through our academy and was snapped up by the reds. Oops, oil forgot a certain Everton midfielder, started his career with his brother at Rovers, Davies.
Then there is a three locals who made pros, Declan Drysdale, (Gillingham).
Jamie MacGuire, (Mansfield youth coach) Luke Pilling.
And I'm really surprised you didn't mention Andy Roberts.
Another is club legend, Shaun Garnett, thirty years service as player, coach, assistant manager, academy director. Club representative in China.
Most of these and some more missing have been brought through the academy set up by Warwick Rimmer, who saved the club by selling on these players.
Another local is Derek Mountfield. There are a few more like Steve Jennings, not forgetting the four ex Rovers players who were on our television screens playing for Marine, who were very good v spurs in the FA cup.
Thanks to John Achterberg, we had up until a couple of years ago, a production line of goalkeepers signing pro contract. Other keepers, such as Danny and Joe, had good careers.
My brain has crashed, I know that I've missed some and will be reminded of it by you lot. But we should take pride in the number of professional footballers we have had come through the club ranks.
It is really sad to think that the club has abandoned the local youngsters by closing the academy. Other than financially, the club has prevented good young talent coming through. The only reason why we have first year pros. Is of the EFL rules that clubs have to have home grown players in the squad. As I've said before, now we haven't got the academy, the youth players are cast offs from other clubs, and as time goes, these youngsters don't have the tradition of the club. And don't have the Tranmere Rovers running through their blood. And the quality is deteriorating.
We need an academy again!