Good News - Academy

[Gary James]

A brilliant idea that will give the newcomers and hopefully future first team players a way of becoming part of the club .This is a concept which was taken for granted when most players were born and bred or lived near to Manchester.Now however, with the increasing European background of our youngsters it is a great way of educating and hopefully making them feel part of Manchester City. Well done Gary.. and to Lakey ...keep up the fantastic work.

It's the guys from the Academy who need thanking most. They were the ones that contacted me and said "we're thinking of teaching the Academy lads about City's history, can you help?" They were the ones that made it happen. They discussed it with their bosses and ultimately GC (who thought it was brilliant).<br /><br />-- Thu Sep 08, 2011 11:51 am --<br /><br />

It's a great idea and one that should be incorporated into the Stadium tour for members of the public... almost like a walking tour of Manchester City... they do similar things around many towns and cities.

I've tried to get this sort of thing going for fans (and tourists) in the past, but never found enough like minded people to make it happen.

I'm hoping to get a football heritage trail going as part of next year's Histories Festival.

Manchester already has football walks but none of them are based around City and, to be frank, it doesn't look like they run that often. They seem to be geared around people going to OT.

 

[Braggster]

I really do think this is a fantastic idea. Hope they keep it up. I think it's an extremely encouraging sign in general about what the academy staff are looking to do with our young players.

Wonder if they have any classroom style lessons on football tactics and how they have evolved over the years?

 

[lancs blue]

Wonder if they have any classroom style lessons on football tactics and how they have evolved over the years?

Check out the first performance analysis vid on the OS, they film all academy matches and use the same software as they use for the first team to analyse tactics, passing and movement.

 

[gh_mcfc]

Great idea . What about getting a few fans inolved . Older and a bit less older timers to really get the passion an feeling for the club across. I know you and lakey count as fans but a couple or 3 to span the decades might work.

 

[Hamann Pineapple]

Superb that the club are involving people like you in this Gary, great initiative. "Donkey Common ?" Ha, that made me laugh.

 

[JoeMercer'sWay]

this is great stuff, exactly the sort of thing we need to be doing to help develop the players in the club way.

 

[Braggster]

Wonder if they have any classroom style lessons on football tactics and how they have evolved over the years?

Check out the first performance analysis vid on the OS, they film all academy matches and use the same software as they use for the first team to analyse tactics, passing and movement.

Thanks, I agree that is interesting, and encouraging. Guess I was thinking more of a historical overview (a bit like Jonathan Wilson's stuff I suppose) rather than a more individual-focussed performance evaluation. I think it could be an interesting addition to young players' overall footballing education.

 

[Gary James]

Great idea . What about getting a few fans inolved . Older and a bit less older timers to really get the passion an feeling for the club across. I know you and lakey count as fans but a couple or 3 to span the decades might work.

I can't reveal what the plans are, but this is a season long programme of sessions. There are various themes, but Support is one of the main ones. Some of the players are supporters as well.

I talked a bit about this at the MCDSA meet on Monday night and I'm happy to guest at other branches to talk about this, my books and of course City.<br /><br />-- Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:25 pm --<br /><br />

Wonder if they have any classroom style lessons on football tactics and how they have evolved over the years?

Check out the first performance analysis vid on the OS, they film all academy matches and use the same software as they use for the first team to analyse tactics, passing and movement.

Thanks, I agree that is interesting, and encouraging. Guess I was thinking more of a historical overview (a bit like Jonathan Wilson's stuff I suppose) rather than a more individual-focussed performance evaluation. I think it could be an interesting addition to young players' overall footballing education.

Yesterday's session and tour included match reports from the 1880s; brief information on pitch markings, offside rules, disputed goals (all the rage in 1882!), the fact that the umpires were provided by both teams (before the arrival of refs) and bringing fans on to the pitch to make up the numbers.

Obviously, it's an alien world to most of us now, never mind 16 year olds.

 

[whosonthebench]

What were the lads' reaction to the tour? was they genuinely interested or did they come across as being there because they had to kind of thing?

 

[alky313]

My brother in law was an academy player for Hearts. Having been born an bred in Glossop he said it brought him closer to his new adoptive home. This is a good measure as even players who live in our country don't quite understand the history of the club and Manchester. Great job!

 

[Gary James]

What were the lads' reaction to the tour? was they genuinely interested or did they come across as being there because they had to kind of thing?

Obviously, they are all about 16/17 so I think we can all remember how we felt about this sort of thing at their age. It was also cold, raining, muddy (when we stood on Gorton Park's pitch). However, the lads were much more interested than I'd expected.

A couple of them were interviewed for the website afterwards. I don't know what they said, so it'll be interesting to hear. What did come across yesterday was that the lads are keen to hear how they can become players and ambassadors for the Club. They listened intently at times - even when it was a stuggle because of the wind - and at the end they all made an effort to thank me and Paul.

I've probably already said too much about all of this, but as I said right at the start this is a very significant and positive step.

 

[HappyG]

Brilliant stuff, well done to the academy lads that came up with the idea, and great work Gary.

 

[Fame Monster]

This sort of stuff is more important than any signing or match. The speed at which the club is moving, it's so crucial not to forget that we move together, as a community - the way it has always been and always should be. I have to say I'm delighted and thanks very much Gary for sharing.

 

[Gary James]

This sort of stuff is more important than any signing or match. The speed at which the club is moving, it's so crucial not to forget that we move together, as a community - the way it has always been and always should be. I have to say I'm delighted and thanks very much Gary for sharing.

Thanks. We should also try to ensure those who criticise the Club's spending etc. understand the steps being taken to ensure the Club has a soul and a heart. I'd like to think that within five years some of those lads will be playing in City's first team (and perhaps internationally) and will have gained something positive from the experience.

I've said it before but I remain convinced that a decade from now, City will be held up by leading footballing figures as an example of how all football clubs should be run.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

While the furore continues, I thought I'd give everyone a bit of positive news on something the Club is doing.

A few months back I was approached by a couple of members of Academy staff who wanted to give the current crop of 16/17 year olds some background into the Club's history.

Obviously, all football clubs should do this as a matter of course but the fact is that they don't.

I met up with the guys, we talked through ideas and then we created a series of sessions to last throughout the season. The plan was that these would focus on all key aspects of our history, supporters, club colours, and so on.

Yesterday we staged the first one. We talked with the players about the birth of the Club; took them to the site of St. Mark's Church in West Gorton; went to Gorton Park (where the Club played in 1882-1884 when it was more commonly known as Donkey Common or Queens Road); visited the site of the old Hyde Rd ground; then went to the stadium where they went in the dressing room, up the tunnel and also looked at the exhibition on the plans for the new training facilities.

I believe what we did yesterday was pretty innovative for a football club. Others do bits on their history, but most tend to pay lip service to it. I'm not aware of any club that takes their potential future stars walking around the areas of their birth.

Yesterday also demonstrated to me that people often assume high-profile Premier League football clubs and their players think only about the modern day but City are clearly trying to ensure that their future stars understand the significance of the Club to its community, and the importance of each period of its history.

This is the sort of thing every football club should do. It gives players an understanding and empathy with the fans and, of course, the city of Manchester.

With many focusing on all the negatives surrounding the Club, its players, directors, and its perceived wealth, there are some very real positive activities going on.

Paul Lake joined us on the session yesterday and it was very clear that the Club had never done anything like this when he was a player (and I guess they've never done it at all during any previous regime). Incidentally, Paul is also a great ambassador for the Club.

Hopefully, the story will make its way on to the website soon. Part of the day was filmed and should appear on the site later this week/early next week.

We must never forget where we've come from. I don't need to tell you this, Gary, but we've got as much history as any club.

We've also got a lot more 'personality' too which is one of the reasons why we love the club so much!

I've never been more proud to be a City fan as I am now, even when we were getting 28,000 in Division 2. Our club is in safe hands whatever crises get thrown our way.

As for your comments about Paul Lake is there any City fan surprised by that?

 

[Gary James]

We must never forget where we've come from. I don't need to tell you this, Gary, but we've got as much history as any club.

We've also got a lot more 'personality' too which is one of the reasons why we love the club so much!

I've never been more proud to be a City fan as I am now, even when we were getting 28,000 in Division 2. Our club is in safe hands whatever crises get thrown our way.

As for your comments about Paul Lake is there any City fan surprised by that?

I agree entirely. As fans we need to bang the drum and tell everyone of the positives this club has. There are some excellent people within the Club and, of course, there are also all of us fans (bad English I know) who ensure continuity.