Juniors join first team for training

Two of Blyth Spartans Juniors sides got to train alongside the first team on Thursday night and manager Tom Wade revealed that he would like it to be a more permanent feature.

The Under 10's and Under 18's trained on the same pitch as Colin Myers and the senior players as they carried out their final preparations for the first pre-season friendly of the summer against Whitley Bay on Saturday. Wade emphasised just how important it is that the club ensure that they have a strong bond with the Juniors.

"It's massive for us to ensure the youngsters are involved. I cut my teeth as a coach working with the juniors and there are a lot of good quality players who have come through the juniors. Dan Burn who is now at Fulham was a Blyth Spartans junior and then we have Matthew Wade in our first team now. Both lads came through the Juniors and they need a stepping stone to come through. That is something we are looking at and it's important as a club that we give the juniors a chance to progress at our club"

Both Junior sides were being put through their paces as they prepare for their own season in the Pinpoint Recruitment League and the Juniors Club Secretary Keith Whisson felt

"It gives the lads a boost because they can see that one day they could represent Blyth Spartans first team and all of the tradition that comes with that. As coaches we work with players from under 7s to under 18s but there are players who just leave after that and lose interest. Russell Parker(Juniors Chairman) and myself are working to revolutionise the way our juniors are ran and the link with the first team is key"

He also revealed that Wade had played a key role in inviting the Juniors along to training and that the Spartans manager was sympathetic to the issues that can be faced by grassroots coaches.

"Tom said he understands how difficult it is at Grassroots and he knows what we are going through. I think he appreciates how it can work both ways and we can bring players through the Juniors for him to take a look at. That will help us generate interest. He can see the benefits for both sides and we hope to build on that"