Good to see the Youth Team not affected

[TommyD&R]

Wasn't Harlee Dean from our academy?

Yep, and if I remember rightly he played 1 game for us coming on as a striker in the promotion season. Now a decent championship centre back. Can't understand why we did let him go because I saw him play 3 or 4 games for Grays in the conference at centre back that season and he looked decent.

[Mark]

We didn't let him go. He refused to sign a new contract and left.

[SUSSEX DAGGER]

They are "scholars", they are coached and train every day. You could see the difference in physique between the players for Stevenage and for Aveley on Monday.

If Woodbridge Town can pick up a team locally that can beat our expensively funded and coached Academy for nothing, in fact i would suspect the kids parents pay a significant fee for the priviledge, then what is the point of it?

According to another thread here the Academy costs us £500k per season.

Thought the final score was 4-4 , so we drew with a Club Youth team from a lesser Club if that's what they are.

Also the 500k that it costs the Club is heavily subsidised by FA funding owing to the status granted, a status that many tried but very few acheived.

Properly clutching at straws there Sussex. This is a shocking result any way you look at it.

How much do the FA pay? Where is that documented?

Oh they do Mike and the better your status the more you get. As for clutching at straws Mike I am more akin to a drowning man gasping for air. Tomorrow I know there is buckets of shit that are going to be tipped over my head if we lose.

[OBD]

Also the 500k that it costs the Club is heavily subsidised by FA funding owing to the status granted, a status that many tried but very few acheived.

Wrong! Thommo said at the last fans forums that we have to find £500k ourselves every season to fund the academy.

I'm sure he said last year that we get a £1m grant from the FA towards the academy but we only get that while we are a football league club.

[Diggerthedog]

They are "scholars", they are coached and train every day. You could see the difference in physique between the players for Stevenage and for Aveley on Monday.

If Woodbridge Town can pick up a team locally that can beat our expensively funded and coached Academy for nothing, in fact i would suspect the kids parents pay a significant fee for the priviledge, then what is the point of it?

According to another thread here the Academy costs us £500k per season.

Thought the final score was 4-4 , so we drew with a Club Youth team from a lesser Club if that's what they are.

Also the 500k that it costs the Club is heavily subsidised by FA funding owing to the status granted, a status that many tried but very few acheived.

Properly clutching at straws there Sussex. This is a shocking result any way you look at it.

How much do the FA pay? Where is that documented?

£500k is paid by FA/premier league and must be spent on the academy, it is given to all football league clubs regardless of status Sussex.

[mickeyblue]

Our academy coaches must be on alot of money
500 seems alot to run academy when others not in football league has academy's.

Aveley btw would ruin dagenham 1st team let alone academy teams

Is mark still coaching at Aveley ?

[bearaab]

Wasn't Harlee Dean from our academy?

Yep, and if I remember rightly he played 1 game for us coming on as a striker in the promotion season. Now a decent championship centre back. Can't understand why we did let him go because I saw him play 3 or 4 games for Grays in the conference at centre back that season and he looked decent.

Shame we couldn't keep hold of him and I'm surprised saints let him go.