Harriers academy make more plans

Kidderminster Harriers will be looking to take further steps forward when the time comes to assess their academy's first year of existence.

The club's current youth set up was formed in the summer, in conjunction with Stourbridge College, with Jerry Gill the man in charge.

The former Birmingham defender and Bristol Rovers youth coach, who arrived last June, immediately set about making his mark.

After working in the Football League, the 41-year-old ensures that his new place of work is as professional as possible.

His success will be measured, ultimately, by the players who break through to the first-team and, by the end of the season, it could come to pass.

Youth team captain Paul Hurrell and Ashley Checketts have already warmed the bench, while Tyrone Williams and Ollie Long could follow suit.

But, longer term, Gill hopes to be producing players capable of performing in the Football League through the benefit of their 'full time' work.

He said: "If, in three or four years time, we have produced a lad who has made it in the Football League, I will be very proud.

"I would never stand in anyone's away if that happened, that's our kudos and that where we earn our badges, if you like.

"We want to produce lads capable of playing at as high a level as possible and that can only be good for the club.

"In years to come, whether I am here or not, it would be great to have an established and successful academy here."

The current academy squad, which consists of 20 players, work full-time schedules at the club's training facility on Zortech Avenue.

Their typical day consists of football in the mornings and education, through Stourbridge College, in the afternoons.

Gill speaks very highly of the college principal, Lynette Cutting, and the system which has worked so well could soon stretch wider.

The club are looking to set up their own Centre of Excellence for next season, giving them time to nurture players from a younger age.

That would title them to a 'development' fee should a bigger club take one of their players, giving them some piece of mind.

Their illustrious neighbours in Wolves, Albion, Aston Villa, Birmingham and Walsall will soon be deciding on their 'retained' lists for the summer.

And Gill wants to be in a position to offer the players who are let go a chance to stay as a full-time footballer.

He said: "We are starting to attract the under-16s who are leaving the academies of the clubs around us, they are starting to be released now.

"They are not being offered scholarships and we want to be the next call, we want them to come to us.

"We can offer them full-time football every day and a education in the afternoons. As a scheme, it works so well."

On the pitch, the highlight for the current crop was the run to the second round of the FA Youth Cup, where they were narrowly beaten by Carlisle.

Harriers would have met Premier League opposition if they had won on the night at Aggborough but Gill took the positives from getting that far.

He said: "It was a great night and we should have won the game, but Carlisle said some great things about us.

"Kit Symons was there from Fulham, who we would have played in the next round, and he rang me and left the voicemail the following day.

"He thought we had played terrifically, he found himself wanting us to win the game because we played football in the right way.

"For those comments to come from a Premier League academy manager, we must be doing something right."