First-team beckons for Harriers youth

Kidderminster Harriers academy manager Jerry Gill today backed his fledglings to make the first-team grade at Aggbrorough next season.

Harriers have already had two, Paul Hurrell and Ashley Checketts, warm the first-team bench for an FA Trophy game against Droylsden in January.

Now, as the club's youth set-up enters its second year of existence, Gill reckons their emerging talent pool could break through the glass ceiling.

Last season, a 60-strong squad led Harriers on their best-ever run in the FA Youth Cup, narrowly losing 1-0 to Carlisle in the second round proper.

Their under-18 team - despite fielding players mostly aged 16 and 17 - finished third in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Premier Division South.

Their under-19 side - the more senior of the two - battled through to reach ninth of the much-tougher Conference Youth League Central Division.

From those ranks, Gill pointed to defender Tyrone Williams and attacking midfielder Ollie Long as the next 'top two' to be ready for the first-team.

He said: "This time next year, I think we will be seeing some signs of some really good players.

"I will be surprised if I haven't got a player in Tyrone Williams, who is 17 but still growing and developing.

"Ollie Long will be a fantastic player for me next season, but he broke a bone in his foot in March.

"He's been in plaster but he's recovering well now and he's only 16, so I predict good things for him.

"He's very smooth in his running with the ball. He's a clever and exciting player who can make things happen.

"Those two will really be pushing over the next few months, with a good pre-season under their belts."

Harriers' academy squad regularly rub shoulders with the first-team players at the club's training ground on Zortech Avenue.

But, by the time they report back from their summer holidays, the place will be revamped into a 40-acre Centre of Sporting Excellence.

Stourbridge College are active partners in Harriers' youth set-up and have bought what was the Chainwire Sports Ground for £700,000.

The overhaul will push the College's outlay into seven-figures but will give Harriers a real chance of attracting top talent in the region.

And, with the College offering courses of education to go with the football, it's not going to be 'win or bust' for Harriers' teenagers.

Gill said: "It's a 50-50 partnership with Stourbridge College and there's massive importance on education, the lads' parents realise that.

"But it's exciting and it's something that, if I was a young kid, I would like to join and word of mouth is getting around now.

"We have held a couple of trials and we have got some good lads coming in for next year, it will raise the bar and that's what we want.

"I am bringing in one from Wolves, one from Walsall, two lads from Birmingham, a couple from Birmingham and two from Villa.

"From where we are last year, holding open trials and not knowing who any of the lads were, it's a turnaround."

This summer, Harriers' youth team captain Paul Hurrell will be going out in the big, wide world as he looks to break into mens football.

Over the next few months, more will follow suit as they reach the end of the two-year course but Gill will make sure they are looked after.

He said: "It has to be the right club, I can't let kids who have been under my hat for two years just go anywhere.

"They have to develop wherever they go, we don't want them going out to where things are not being done in the right way.

"They need to learn all aspects of the game and I don't mind our kids going out and learning it's physical in mens football.

"But I don't want their development to stop at 18, because that's a key age for them."