First-team win a tribute to the youth policy..

Robbie Steele in action against Caersws Reserves
Robbie Steele in action against Caersws Reserves

I am indebted to Dot Griffiths (because it would never have occurred to me in a month of Sundays) for pointing out an interesting fact about the line up at the end of the first team’s 6-0 home win over Caersws Reserves on Wednesday night.

As Dot put it:   ‘When the game finished, all of  the outfield players have previously played for (or are still playing for) Presteigne youth teams.  Quite satisfying to know that our academy system is working well don’t you think?!!  All we need to do is train a goalkeeper or two!

It would also be interesting to know the average age – even with Frosty [Ian Havard] I reckon it would be the low 20’s.  We think that the oldest player on the pitch for us last night at any time, was Joel at 25.’

For the record, the 10 outfield players on the field at the final whistle last night – in no particular order – were:

Luke Boundford, Shane Sutton, Max Powell, Robbie Steele, Tom Evans, Joey Price, Danny Ives, Jack Bowen, Richie Wilding and Liam Jones.

Nick Evans is another who would almost certainly have figured last night had he not been injured playing for the Under 18s against Hinton on Monday night.

Of course, this is in no way to detract from the contribution made by those members of the squad who did not come up through the age group sides over the years, but it will be gratifying to those who have put in a lot of work to run youth sides in Presteigne.

Food for thought for some of our more misguided critics on the BBC website who claim all we do is try and buy up the best talent from around the league, perhaps?    Food for thought it might be, but I strongly suspect there is little chance of them eating humble pie for pudding…!

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