Right, I'm not doing any more political stuff so back to RL.
We now have in our first-team squad 13 genuine academy products, 7 of which are genuine first-teamers.
Anybody any idea when that last occurred? Almost certain its pre-SL.
I don't think to be an Academy product necessarily makes you better or more loyal than any other player, I'm not into this local lad stuff as such, far from it. All the same, I do think its a very good indicator of a clubs general health. Good stuff IMO.
It's hard to tell which of these will make it but IMHO there are far fewer makeweights than in the past. In Croft, Kershaw and Gwaze you already have three players who have been bloode. The first two stood up extremely well, it's a bit unfair to judge Titus as he's very young for a prop. Aydin has always stood out to me, I know less about the other two though Bailey has already picked up a lot of honours.
The magnificent 5 in reality, as the qualities are not to be judged on who they produce but who they can retain. Pitts may be a Wakey Academy product, but he has only returned to us at the end of his career. Brough has left us twice to ply his trade his elsewhere, and again he is here because we've given him a home in which he can see out his career, rather than grow it. He preferred to grow it elsewhere, as did Pitts.
That isn't a dig at the club or academy though. The fact that we are able to produce and retain the other 5, as well as the ones bubbling through, is testament to the way the club is run now, especially with the likes of Johnstone, and perhaps the decisions of Pitts and Brough in the past was an indictment of how it was run then.
In reply to the op, I dont think that we've had this many "home grown" players in the squad while I been watching (although it's hard to try and remember players from different era's) and certainly not during the SL era and taking last season as a blip (due to a crippling injury list) I dont think there is any coincidence in their inclusion and the clubs improving fortunes on the field. All of top clubs (bar probably Wigan) are able to retain their best youngsters and on the back of that retention, build a squad around their local talent and it's massive credit to all involved that we have so many youngsters in there, not forgetting the efforts of Croft and Kershaw, who both stepped up admirably well, when called upon last season. Without wanting to cause any thread drift, this just makes it all the more galling when we have clubs like Toronto (and maybe New York) that can come into the comp - not only unable to field any "locals" but very unlikely to do so in the foreseeable future and these clubs could very well replace Trinity or another club of similar ilk. Great testament to everyone involved at the club and to the lads themselves for showing some loyalty to Trinity and long may it continue.
The magnificent 5 in reality, as the qualities are not to be judged on who they produce but who they can retain. Pitts may be a Wakey Academy product, but he has only returned to us at the end of his career. Brough has left us twice to ply his trade his elsewhere, and again he is here because we've given him a home in which he can see out his career, rather than grow it. He preferred to grow it elsewhere, as did Pitts.
That isn't a dig at the club or academy though. The fact that we are able to produce and retain the other 5, as well as the ones bubbling through, is testament to the way the club is run now, especially with the likes of Johnstone, and perhaps the decisions of Pitts and Brough in the past was an indictment of how it was run then.
Can’t say I agree with that TBH. We took the chance we gave them their first game, without Trinity most would never have had a career. This was especially the case for us in the past as we always got the youngsters nobody else wanted, no offence to those players but I suspect we were the last choice for most.
Can’t say I agree with that TBH. We took the chance we gave them their first game, without Trinity most would never have had a career. This was especially the case for us in the past as we always got the youngsters nobody else wanted, no offence to those players but I suspect we were the last choice for most.
Slugger is right too FMC. For example Crowther got offers from Wigan, Huddersfield etal. As a massive Wakey fan he choose here. He represented England U16s and U18s so wasn't a last pick. He was Michaels first signing too. I'm sure Max was the same. But you're right we've often also had last picks. Mark Applegarth has been creating pathways so that better players start to choose us. The link with the first team is getting better and better. We've some good talent in Aydun, Croft and the other squad numbers we've given out but the production line starts years before anyone sees it. Definitely going in the right direction and as I say, progression not perfection.
Slugger is right too FMC. For example Crowther got offers from Wigan, Huddersfield etal. As a massive Wakey fan he choose here. He represented England U16s and U18s so wasn't a last pick. He was Michaels first signing too. I'm sure Max was the same. But you're right we've often also had last picks. Mark Applegarth has been creating pathways so that better players start to choose us. The link with the first team is getting better and better. We've some good talent in Aydun, Croft and the other squad numbers we've given out but the production line starts years before anyone sees it. Definitely going in the right direction and as I say, progression not perfection.
That really wasn't the point I was making as regards Sluggers comment, what you've just repeated is what I said in my OP
I have to say we are in a great position and the OP proves it with the length of the list of first teamers. Saying that I don't count Brough as our success. He had the break elsewhere. We were just a first step and a later step but he'd have been successful without us.
For me Lyne is not officially a Wakefield product but we have had more to do with his development from a young age and his success all the way to an England cap.
I have to say we are in a great position and the OP proves it with the length of the list of first teamers. Saying that I don't count Brough as our success. He had the break elsewhere. We were just a first step and a later step but he'd have been successful without us.
For me Lyne is not officially a Wakefield product but we have had more to do with his development from a young age and his success all the way to an England cap.
Either way. I like where we are now.
You could kind off include Atkins, it's a bit of a grey area but I can live with it.