We are delighted to announce as a Club but specifically for our Paget Rangers Junior Section that we have now signed a deal with West Bromwich Albion Academy Recruitment. This will enhance the player pathway still further and provide a direct link to a Premier League Football Team.
Whilst results may be important to some, we have made no secret of the fact that we put player development at the very core of what we are trying to achieve through our coaching programme within Paget Rangers Juniors. Initially developed by previous Head Coach, Courtney Pitt and now updated and overseen by new Head Coach, Peter Shearer, the development programme is uniquely designed to cover all aspects of player development in line with the FA four corner model.
Win, lose or draw in games we are always aiming to ensure that our young players learn from the experience. At these young ages development has to come ahead of results. As the players progress through the age groups there is more focus on tactical play, game structure and game management and many hours are spent on the training pitch educating our young players about the finer details of game play. As our youngsters progress towards Under 16 a winning culture and mentality clearly becomes more important but until that time our primary focus is the performance.
We have said from the beginning that our vision as a Club is to create a genuine pathway for our young players to progress through the age groups and then hopefully into our own first team. Indeed, we have seen over a dozen 16 and 17 year olds already this season make the transition from playing under 18/19 football to now playing in our own First Team. Some have shown already that they are ready to play at the level, whereas others may need more time but for all of those who have already grabbed this opportunity through training hard, listening to their coaches and then demonstrating in games that they can follow through these instructions, have had the opportunity that we set out to deliver.
There can be little doubt that this vision and philosophy has led to our Chairman James Parker agreeing and signing this deal with West Bromwich Albion Academy Recruitment. This will mean that West Bromwich Albion will have a constant oversight of our players within the Junior Section of the Club and will routinely have Scouts at our games. The best young players from our Junior Teams will be invited into West Bromwich Albion for trials and our age group teams will also play against the West Bromwich Albion Academy sides.
The arrangement extends further to our own coaching staff who will we involved working with West Bromwich Albion. Alex McDowell, who heads up the Paget Rangers Junior Foundation Age Groups, under 8 – under 10, is already an established West Bromwich Albion Academy Coach.
This Club is about opportunity and this link is just further evidence of the opportunities that await the young footballers who join us in their football education.
If you would like to give your child, boy or girl, the opportunity to come along to Paget Rangers Juniors for a Trial, then please complete the Trial Form below.