: Sat Mar 07, 2009 12:11 pm  

and who funds it, surely if thats the edict from high then the RFL should fund a large percent with the other coming from the local pro club out of the 'massive' (tongue in cheek here folks) sky deal that the co-op clubs got.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:36 pm  

Would it not be possible to create a 'Leigh Junior Academy Association', representing one member from each of the four clubs involved?

Appoint a coach and a support team, and rotate the games between the amateur clubs' venues. Train at LSV, natch, but let all three amateur clubs' players aspire towards what would be, in effect, a town representative team at Under 18s.

Everyone working towards the same goals, there...

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:44 pm  

that would perhaps be the dream idea whether it would ever work though.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 2:34 pm  

FredParky wrote:

that would perhaps be the dream idea whether it would ever work though.

No reason why it couldn't, though it would need a champion to push the idea forward...

...Mr Chairman??

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 2:42 pm  

No disrespect to Gary Eccleston or any of the previous player performance people we have had

What we need to move forward with both the Scholarship and the u 18's is a coach/scout/Player Performance manager with no ties to any local club , ideally an aussie/kiwi would be best

In my opinion of course

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:23 pm  

Tony Benson

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:32 pm  

Wembley71 wrote:

Would it not be possible to create a 'Leigh Junior Academy Association', representing one member from each of the four clubs involved?

Appoint a coach and a support team, and rotate the games between the amateur clubs' venues. Train at LSV, natch, but let all three amateur clubs' players aspire towards what would be, in effect, a town representative team at Under 18s.

Everyone working towards the same goals, there...

And where are they going to play given that the Reserves weren't even allowed to play anywhere at the LSV complex???

And this would also have the best young players from Leigh playing 12 months a year as well as overlapping in spring/autumn. Is this good for them?

Re: u/18s : Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:32 pm  

[quote="mr. chairman"]just had a phone call that the rfl will be instructing nl1 teams to run u/18s teams, but the pro teams will have to elect a amateur club to run it . so leigh will have to pick from EAST , MINERS OR GOLBORNE . not sure how this is going to work[/quote]

Not very well I would think

This could well alienate some clubs and players from working with Leigh Centurions

Sound like the RFL once again trying a one shirt fits all policy

It will suit the expansion clubs like Gateshead,Skolars,Donny,Sheffield but will cause problems where there is several amatuer clubs in or around one town

Are they going to expect junior players to swap clubs at age 16

Also this will surely encourage ' Super teams ' at pre 16 age groups , something the RFL have tried to stop in the past