Any news on the Academy ? (1 Viewer)

[stupot07]

NEWS: Coventry City's Academy ranked in top five across the Football League for the last six years

Wed 24 Feb 2016 13:31

The City Academy is ranked third in the country out of all category two Academies recent statistics highlight...

Coventry City's Academy has been placed in the top five in the entire Football League and the top ten in the country over the last six years.


The Sky Blues' Academy has enjoyed unprecedented success over recent years providing the club's first-team with 30 debutants since the 2008/09 season.


This was highlighted when the Sky Blues recorded a 1-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy last season, with all 11 players which ended the game from or still in the City Academy.


This season has seen Academy product and midfielder James Maddison star for the first-team, making 15 appearances and scoring three goals, including a match-winner against Port Vale.




Previously, striker Callum Wilson progressed from the Academy and is now playing in the Premier League with AFC Bournemouth, and defender Cyrus Christie who is now at Derby County and a Republic of Ireland international.


Statistics from the FA have recently highlighted the outstanding performance of our Academy, with the club ranked third out of all category two Academies for the last six years.


City come in fifth across all 72 Football League clubs and tenth across all clubs, including the Premier League, showing we can mix it with the best of the Academies, as our Under-18s recently showed in the FA Youth Cup against Arsenal.


City Academy Manager Richard Stevens said: "These are exciting times for the Academy and I couldn't be more delighted to see everyone's hard work paying off.


"Over recent years, there aren't many Academies which can match our record of getting players into the first-team and we're immensely proud of being able to give local, talented players a chance in the game.


"I'm a firm believer that all clubs should have local representation in their first-team to embody the passion of its City, and our club has certainly had that.


"As our recent performance in the FA Youth Cup showed, I'm in no doubt this Academy will continue to provide the first-team with local talent and the production line looks healthier than ever.


"Behind the scenes, we're expending our operations and adding resources in the right areas which will help the development of footballing talent in Coventry."




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[SlowerThanPlatt]

The CT (believe it or not) did a good piece on the Academy recently on how much money it has made the club in the past 10 years.

Looking at accounts they worked out CCFC had invested around £4.5m of the clubs money into the Academy in the past 10 years.

During the same time the club had recouped £10.85m through transfer fees.

If you went back before 2007 into early 2000s you'd have Callum Davenport (£1.4m) and Chris Kirkland (£6m).

I'd say over doubling your money in a multi million pound investment wouldn't be described as 'minimal profit' in the business world.

Not too sure what some people expect to be honest. CCFC have a lot of competition around them, likes of Villa, Wolves, West Brom, Leicester, Derby and Stoke are all Category 1 and have much better facilities. Birmingham a strong Category 2 side with a lot more investment. CCFC do very well IMO and can compete with all them teams at Academy level.

 

[stupot07]

Andre Grey-Hinckley Utd. Ben Foster Warwick/Central Ajax.
Isn't that 2 more than the Ccfc academy who have gone on to play regularly at the top level in the last 10 years (Wilson apart?)?

Andre Gray was at Shrewsbury and Wolves before Hinckley. An Academy product is classed as a player who has played for the clubs U18 side.

You said in the last 10 years, Foster left Warwick for Stoke in 2001, 16 years ago..... So the answer to your question is no

Out of interest, in the last 10 years how many players have solely come through (I.e not previously been at a PL or FL academy) Hinckley or Warwick and gone on to have a career in professional football in the PL or FL?

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[Gaz71]

A few academy lads here

 

[Adge]

You said in the last 10 years, Foster left Warwick for Stoke in 2001, 16 years ago..... So the answer to your question is no


Out of interest, in the last 10 years how many players have solely come through (I.e not previously been at a PL or FL academy) Hinckley or Warwick and gone on to have a career in professional football in the PL or FL?

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You said in the last 10 years, Foster left Warwick for Stoke in 2001, 16 years ago..... So the answer to your question is no

Out of interest, in the last 10 years how many players have solely come through (I.e not previously been at a PL or FL academy) Hinckley or Warwick and gone on to have a career in professional football in the PL or FL?

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Likewise if you can be bothered to reseach some of the dregs (that would be most of them) that came through and dissappeared into non-league football and never heard of again.
Someone earlier I think was mentioning the Wycombe away cup game where at the end of the match there were 11 on the pitch-whom or most of them have contributed over the last 12-18 months to us being relegated and in the bottom tier.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Likewise if you can be bothered to reseach some of the dregs (that would be most of them) that came through and dissappeared into non-league football and never heard of again.
Someone earlier I think was mentioning the Wycombe away cup game where at the end of the match there were 11 on the pitch-whom or most of them have contributed over the last 12-18 months to us being relegated and in the bottom tier.

No ones mentioned the Wycombe game in this topic?

Look, you clearly have some agenda against the Academy which goes further than corner flags being missing to keep coming back slating it with every post. With all due respect, you're probably posting in the wrong thread if you feel that way.

And...only 3 of the 11 actually played more than a few minutes last season from the Wycombe game, so not most like you claimed.

 

[rupert_bear]

You're a prick Adge who obviously knows fuck all about football, some not a lot make it big, some kick around the lower leagues, others find a level in the non leagues but all or most of them were good enough to have a chance, all sorts of things contribute injuries, at the wrong time, the failure to make the big time in pro football is massive to describe those who fail as "dregs" is nieve, disrespectful and insulting.
Have you played the game?

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

I don't really understand him to be honest. I've tried to have a reasonable debate but he just keeps coming back with made up facts to suit his agenda. I do wonder what his connections are to have such an agenda.

As RB says, not every player will stay in the pro game. Only a small
percentage do. It's the same at every club, even the big ones. Through the Academy they get their FA coaching badges and other good qualifications which will still enable them to have a successful career in or outside of football if they don't make it professional.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Likewise if you can be bothered to reseach some of the dregs (that would be most of them) that came through and dissappeared into non-league football and never heard of again.
Someone earlier I think was mentioning the Wycombe away cup game where at the end of the match there were 11 on the pitch-whom or most of them have contributed over the last 12-18 months to us being relegated and in the bottom tier.

You really are a ray of light aren't you

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[stupot07]

Whittingham, sheffers, Christie, Wilson, Madison, Sturridge, Clarke, C Thomas, Che Adams, McCormack, Ruffles, Tope Obadeyi, G Thomas, Stevenson, DKE, Haynes, Harries, Bigirimana, all played in the PL or FL league this season, not to mention people like camwell, maycock, Spence, Shipley, etc who have also had game time this season. There are probably plenty of others I've forgotten. We have consistently produced players good enough to play professional football, that is no mean feat and is why our academy was rightly ranked top 5 in the FL, and top 10 for the whole of PL and FL.

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[SlowerThanPlatt]

Whittingham, sheffers, Christie, Wilson, Madison, Sturridge, Clarke, C Thomas, Che Adams, McCormack, Ruffles, Tope Obadeyi, G Thomas, Stevenson, DKE, Haynes, Harries, Bigirimana, all played in the PL or FL league this season, not to mention people like camwell, maycock, Spence, Shipley, etc who have also had game time this season. There are probably plenty of others I've forgotten. We have consistently produced players good enough to play professional football, that is no mean feat and is why our academy was rightly ranked top 5 in the FL, and top 10 for the whole of PL and FL.

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Jermaine Grandison, Nathan Cameron, Ben Turner, Aaron Phillips, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Craig Reid. Maybe more too but can't think atm

 

[stupot07]

Jermaine Grandison, Nathan Cameron, Ben Turner, Aaron Phillips, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Craig Reid. Maybe more too but can't think atm

I knew I'd forgotten a few, can't believe o forgot a few of those. I wonder how many players there are that played in the FL or PL last season that had purely just been through Hinckley or Warwick's academy?

I think some people underestimate how difficult it is to become a professional footballer, let alone become a top top player.

Just reading a book at the minute

"Around 10,000 boys are in the academy system. In the region of 1 percent will make a living out of the game. Two-thirds of those given a contract at 18 are out of professional football by the time they are 21."

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[SkyBlue79]

I think the academy with its status is an important part for the club, it hasn't necessarily produced Premiership stars every year but has been a source of income and provided some great players for Cov. I think it raises the profile of the club too and gives us something to be proud of. What we really need now is an improved strategy for evaluating and transitioning players from the academy into the first team, rather than the recent approach of throwing them into the deep end. This will hopefully help the players develop even more which will be to both Cov and the players benefit.

 

[Captain Dart]

I think the academy with its status is an important part for the club, it hasn't necessarily produced Premiership stars every year but has been a source of income and provided some great players for Cov. I think it raises the profile of the club too and gives us something to be proud of. What we really need now is an improved strategy for evaluating and transitioning players from the academy into the first team, rather than the recent approach of throwing them into the deep end. This will hopefully help the players develop even more which will be to both Cov and the players benefit.

Here is why from the most recent SBS&L Ltd accounts.

 

[chiefdave]

They're advertising a job at the academy on the club site. Basically driving people around, sorting kit out etc. Doesn't say where you'd be based but its at least an indication there will be an academy.

As Wasps seem to be getting nowhere fast with their plans I suspect another season at Higgs is on the cards.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

They're advertising a job at the academy on the club site. Basically driving people around, sorting kit out etc. Doesn't say where you'd be based but its at least an indication there will be an academy.

As Wasps seem to be getting nowhere fast with their plans I suspect another season at Higgs is on the cards.

The U18s and probably a few U16s are also going to Holland for 2 weeks for pre-season this year

 

[SBchimp]

The U18s and probably a few U16s are also going to Holland for 2 weeks for pre-season this year

Under 18's only.

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Under 18's only.

Ah right okay. Thought they may want to take some of the 16s who might be part of the 18s squad this year

 

[chiefdave]

Hope its not two weeks in Amsterdam!

 

[rupert_bear]

I believe the academy will be at the Higgs another year, to be confirmed. I know there is some national tournament Monday and Tuesday at Warwick Uni. Ticket only though

 

[Adge]

I believe the academy will be at the Higgs another year, to be confirmed. I know there is some national tournament Monday and Tuesday at Warwick Uni. Ticket only though

There is a premier league (minor) tournament at Warwick university on Monday and Tuesday. I got an invite to referee the tournament along with my son but am unavailable.

 

[skybluebeduff]

I hope this is sorted out by at least the mid June, wouldn't it be nice to have some stabilization at the club, for just once ffs?!

 

[Adge]

It would indeed. How amateur is it for perspective players who are looking to join our academy to be shown around a school playing field? Embarrassing!

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

The facilities the club have at the Higgs Centre at the moment are pretty basic. You go to places like Blues (think Blues may be joint with first team?) and Villa, it's worlds apart.

I don't think young players care about facilities much at Academy level. I think they and the parents care more about the coaching and the pathway.

 

[Captain Dart]

I hope this is sorted out by at least the mid June, wouldn't it be nice to have some stabilization at the club, for just once ffs?!

Well it is early June and still no firm news, but I see the Academy is advertising for a head Physio & a Kit & transport manager (van driver ).
VACANCY: Head of Academy Physiotherapy
VACANCY: Academy Kit and Transport Manager

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

They are also going on tour to Holland this year for 2 weeks so they must have a site secured for the next 12 months at least. Where that is I'm not too sure

 

[clint van damme]

The facilities the club have at the Higgs Centre at the moment are pretty basic. You go to places like Blues (think Blues may be joint with first team?) and Villa, it's worlds apart.

I don't think young players care about facilities much at Academy level. I think they and the parents care more about the coaching and the pathway.

and yet our academy is competing with them, great achievement to get the ranking it has by those involved.

 

[oldskyblue58]

anyone got an update on what is happening? Clearly they are planning on having an academy, judging by the job adverts, but where and what level

When do the results of the academy audit come out?

 

[fernandopartridge]

anyone got an update on what is happening? Clearly they are planning on having an academy, judging by the job adverts, but where and what level

When do the results of the academy audit come out?

They're waiting to see how far the Van Man is willing to drive

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

I spoke to Rich the other day. He said he will make some primary announcements next week and that they've fought hard for the next step

 

[Nick]

I reckon it will be an extension at the Higgs for now.

 

[rupert_bear]

In my opinion our academy lacks professionalism

 

[ccfcway]

its coming soon

 

[Nick]

All of the rumours and talk of schools seems to have quietened down a bit as well, unless they just aren't talking about it?

Unless of course something like a 1 or 2 year extension at Higgs is agreed while building / setting up pitches at another place.