In this, the second of our Academy features this week, we look at the rest of the senior section of the Academy, following on from our focus on the 2004 team yesterday.
The senior section of the Academy comprises our under 12 (2005) to under 19 (1998/99). In total we have 9 teams in this section with approximately 130 players looked after by over 25 coaches.
Out of those 9 teams we have 38 Club NI players, in addition to that we have had 8 players called up to various league representative teams at various age groups. This coming summer we will have over 15 players at the Milk Cup at various age groups.
In terms of silverware this season has again been a successful one. In addition to the U13 successdetailed yesterday, we have also enjoyed League Cup and Plate successes in the National League and League and Cup success in the South Belfast Youth League.
The teams performed as follows:
Under 19
South Belfast League
Coach: Darren Ireland
Our under 19 team was established with the intention of bridging the gap between U17 and U20 to provide game time for some of our talented 1999 born players who were not quite ready for u20 football but yet displayed the potential required to push on in their careers. The team has proved successful, in no small part thanks to the hard work of Darren Ireland who has ensured that those on the fringes of the u20 set up have had plenty of opportunities. The team itself suffered from rarely having the same team for two games in a row thanks to the amount of movement between the teams but they competed well in the league and made the semi-final of both cup competitions. Testimony to the hard work of the team has been the emergence of Mark Lowe, Kevin Farrelly and Craig Baird who all featured for the u20s and will look to build on that next season.
Under 17
National Youth league
Coach: Gary McAlister
The under 17s had an up and down season. After struggling to convert good performances into victories in the early part of the campaign they came within one game of missing the cut into the Premier section. Each team in regional sections played each other once with the top half of both regions joining together to form a premier section.
Having scraped into the premier section the fresh start did the boys the world of good as they then went on a 20 game unbeaten run to challenge Linfield all the way to the wire for the league. The boys were rewarded for their efforts by winning the League Cup, beating Dungannon 4-2 in the final which made up for the disappointment of a NIBFA Cup Semi Final defeat to SOPFC.
Jack Henderson received a call up to the u18 Schoolboy International squad for the Centenary Shield while he also played for the u20 along with Sean Wallace, Sean Duffy, Matthew Anderson, Eamon McLaughlin and James McCarthy.
Under 16
National Youth League
Coach: Iain Dickson
The highlight of the season for the 2001 age group as a whole must undoubtedly be the first team debut of Ethan Warnock who impressed Gary Haveron so much in training that he leapt straight from the Academy to the first team, encapsulating all that the Academy should be about – producing first team players. Ethan made hid first team debut in a NIFL Premiership game at Ballinamallard in December.
Obviously one appearance doesn’t make you a first team player but it shows the young players that there is a pathway there if they work hard enough.
Ethan will leave this summer to join Everton and we wish him all the very best for a lengthy and successful career in England – maybe playing out his final years back at the Oval!
Christopher Conn is another who has earned a move to England with Burnley FC offering Chris a scholarship. But due to Chris’ younger birth date he will remain with Glentoran for one more season before moving to England. We are delighted to have another year to watch and work with this special talent.
This age group in general is bursting with real potential and as an Academy we have high hopes that the next Colin Nixon or Paul Leeman may emerge. We will work hard with them to try and make this happen as although that is a big ask there is a lot of talent in the squad and there is every chance. Praise must go to Sean Gallagher, Eoin Rooney, Ben Cushnie, Jamie Glover, Mal Smyth, Lewis McGarvey and Paul McLaughlin who all regularly played up for the u17 forming an integral part of their successful squad.
After an incredible 4 NIBFA Cup wins in 5 seasons the lads made the final again this season but the magical three in a row didn’t quite happen as they lost to Coleraine in the final. The heartache was complete when they also lost narrowly to Coleraine in the National League Plate Final. However the signs remain extremely encouraging for these players and we look forward to them making a big impact at under 18 next season.
Under 15
National Youth League
Coach: Owen Baggley
Our under 15s improved steadily throughout the season. After a difficult start they soon gathered momentum after Halloween and lost only three games from the turn of the year seeing them finish in the top four and reach the semi final of the NIBFA Cup where they unfortunately lost 3-2 to Linfield.
They made up somewhat for that disappointment in beating Dungannon 4-1 on penalties in the National League Plate Final. The team proudly boasts half a dozen players in the Club NI set up and a host of County Players ahead of this Summer's Super Cup NI
Under 14
National Youth League
Coach: Michael Morrow
The 2003s secured their second consecutive runners up finish in the National League which was an impressive achievement as they had 3 or 4 players from the age group below playing most weeks. In order to maintain consistency and a high level of performance when doing this you need to rely on good coaching but most of all you need confident and talented players who can help the younger boys settle in and flourish. This team proved particularly capable in this area as they produced some outstanding football throughout the season.
There is no doubt we are only scratching the surface with this team and they will go from strength to strength over the next couple of seasons. Caolan McBride, Charlie Anderson, Kian Storey, Daniel McIlroy, Sean Brown, Aaron Boyd and Seamus Duffy all earned appearances with Club NI this season with a few more deserving of the opportunity
Under 14
South Belfast Youth League
Coach: Adam Bridgnell
We established this team to act as a development side where we could retain quality players who we felt could push on to challenge for a first team place in years to come but perhaps needed extra game time to develop. These lads certainly got that as a thin number in the squad meant lots of game time for the players.
A lack of numbers was compensated for by heart, desire, work rate and no lack of quality in the South Belfast league where the side had no fewer that four players chosen for the SBYL representative teams.
Credit must go to our young and ambitious coach Adam who stepped into this group mid-season. He has enjoyed a good start and is looking to add more depth to the panel this summer. He is already working hard to bolster the squad. Under Adam the team will go from strength to strength
Under 12
National Youth League
Coach: Robbie Kirk
Under 12s do not play for points in the National League with this being their first season of 11 aside football the focus is on development over results.
This of course allows for natural talent to flourish and we have that in abundance with this group with several players in Club NI and also with Liverpool and Swansea's development centres here in NI.
The boys are already looking forward to next season where they can continue to grow and learn the 11 aside game, we are excited too to see how the lads develop with some real cracking players in this group.
Under 12
South Belfast Youth League
Coach: Shaw Coard
The SBYL differs from the NL as they do play for points and it just so happens that our U12 team got more of them than anyone else in their section of the league as the wee Glens were crowned league champions!
They added to that by winning the SBYL League Cup with a 5-0 win over Carrick Rangers at Solitude to complete the double and they will hope to push on again next season. They will gain an opportunity to train with the National League team more regularly going forward with a view to some progressing through if they wish but the focus also remains on ensuring this group can continue to improve individually and as team players under Shaw and his top coaches.
We hope you have enjoyed reading a brief review of each of the senior teams’ seasons. Really so many good things happen within each age group that we could write a book about it!
Suffice to say we are extremely proud of all our players and the dedication they show to their own personal development and for the shirt they wear on a Saturday. As an Academy we can't ask any more of the boys.
Thanks also to those team Managers named above but also to all the team coaches and helpers without whom we would not be anywhere near as successful as we are.
There will now be a short winding down period for a couple of weeks before we all start a fresh looking towards 2017/18 and working hard to try and help our players improve and fulfil their potential.