Awford urges Pompey starlets to repay the faith
Adam Webster
Andy Awford has told the club’s crop of young players: Take your chance.
The Pompey Academy boss and popular former Blues skipper has seen Ryan Williams and Adam Webster progress from the youth team ranks already this season, with Sam Magri also closing in on his senior debut.
First-team boss Michael Appleton is prepared to trust in the club’s youngsters, with his threadbare squad stretched to the limit by injuries and the on-going financial uncertainty currently making it impossible to recruit more players.
And Awford believes some of his talented youngsters are ready to stake their claim.
Awford said: ‘All I ever say to the lads is “if you’re good enough, you will get an opportunity”.
‘At the moment, a couple are knocking on the door – maybe through necessity but if the manager didn’t think they were good enough, he wouldn’t use them.
‘As it is, he’s comfortable to put them on the bench and Adam Webster has got on the pitch in recent games.
‘The fact the lads are getting on tells you they are not just there to make up the numbers. He feels they can do a job.’
Aside from Webster and Magri, a healthy crop including Jed Wallace, Dan Thompson, Alex Grant, Ashley Harris, Dan Butler, Elliott Wheeler and George Colson have all impressed for the youth team this season and could well make the step-up before the summer.
Awford said: ‘There are some good footballers within the youth team.
‘Webster and Magri are the two who are closest to it at the moment but it’s not a case of throwing kids on the bench for the sake of it – they’ve got to be good enough.’
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Comments
There are 9 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
soilderboy
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 08:17 AMGood luck to the young lads. I had Sam, Ash, Dan, Elliott and George at under 13 level in the acadamy, you couldn't wish for a nicer bunch of lads. Good luck fella's!
butlerali2706
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 04:31 PMModerator please explain. Why are you allowing fans from down the road to comment on our pages.
The Imposter
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 02:34 PMAnyway I hope you've all signed up to the 12TH man website.................www.pompeys12thman.co.uk
wjd
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 01:07 PMSpencerc - Agree with you mate, can see Chanrai bleeding us dry just as you say. I hope we are wrong and that there is a buyer out there who will take on the challenge uring the next week or so. I am desperate for that leech Chanrai to leave this club once and for all.
russian chris
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:07 PMWe will need them even if we fold-to start a new club! Hope it doesnt happen,and that they can have-see-want a future at Pompey.
ozinaus
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:24 AMi hope they don't play well or they will be sold. Awfs Polish your boots mate.
spencerc
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 11:12 AMWe'll need them when chanrai sells all the senior players in the summer. I can see his putting the money in to get us to the summe then all saleable players will be sold!! He will take as much money as he can then sell up
Harry Stotle
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:34 AMWell, the future is there and we have just the right people in place to guide our youth........let's hope for some sanity to resolve our off-field problems
OldPompeyBlue
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:24 AMKeep up the good work Andy and let's hope we still have a youth academy once this financial mess and ownership issues are sorted.
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