The GTFC Investment in Youth!

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 25/05/2001

Recent announcements from Grimsby Town Football Club on the new initiatives the club are making in regard to the promotion of ticket sales and the moves taking place to secure the long term future in relation to players is good news.

Last season was notable for its lack of supporters through the gates and any move to bring back missing fans and creating a new influx of supporters by targeting the younger members of the community is a worthwhile venture.

The recent introduction of the "kids" season ticket and student's concession scheme are just two of the new features introduced at Blundell Park over the last few weeks. In addition to those, the "Football in the Community" programme, which is not highly publicised, is working effectively in the background and creating further interest in the Mariners amongst the school children in particular.

The recent signing of eight young players to the youth squad has commenced the rebuilding of the youth programme with the aim of bringing them up to first team standard. A vital need for the future as we cannot compete with the "big money" clubs but still have to secure new players.

The most economical way of doing this is to 'grow your own' and it is pleasing to see Grimsby Town Football Club acknowledging that and moving immediately to revitalise the club nursery.

Yesterday, Ian Knight, the youth team coach revealed the 'feeder club' concept linking Grimsby Town with Canada with the objective of spotting likely youngsters and gradually bringing them into the game from an early age which, in effect, will act as a feeder line to the Youth Programme.

This investment in the future of football at Blundell Park is an encouraging and positive move and deserves to succeed. For too long, GTFC has trailed behind other clubs who have had the foresight and vision to invest in youth, and these latest announcements are a sign of changing times at BP under the leadership of Lennie Lawrence.

Next Story: Steff Keightley voices his opinion of the student concessions claiming they are not enough

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