This might be a bit of a random topic to talk about, given that we have just had an overwhelmingly positive January transfer window (Marc Leonard aside, obviously) and things are picking up nicely in the league. Albeit, I’ll reserve judgement following the games against Leicester and West Brom before I get a bit more excited, you’d think this is a stretch of a topic to talk about. Chris, my co-host, has already written a piece on that, so I’ve decided to go off on a tangent.
Actually, the idea of talking about this was born from the teamsheet posted across various social media platforms around 1.45pm on Saturday before the game against Oxford. Whilst I was out on the golf course, it flashed up on my smartwatch and, while waiting for one of my four-ball partners-who was attempting to find their ball deep in the Stratford-upon-Avon countryside-I had a look at the team. Whilst it was incredible to see the strength of what we had to offer, I noted one name in particular who was sat on the bench: Menzi Mazwi, a 19-year-old academy product who, since Saturday, has gone out on loan to Queen of the South.
Why did his name stand out? Well, it got me thinking about the players our academy has produced over the years.
Our academy has had quite a rollercoaster existence. It was initially disbanded in 1996 after Barry Fry decided it wasn’t economical enough to develop players only for them to leave on a Bosman. Barry Fry might have been a lot of things, but actually that kind of made sense. Then, in 1999, under the legend that is Trevor Francis, the academy was brought back under the watch of the much sought-after coach Brian Eastwick. However, it was under the leadership of Terry Westley-a man I learned more about football from in one week while doing my Level 2 coaching badge than I had in my entire life, he was that good-that the academy really started to flourish.
Players like Darren Carter, Andy Johnson, and Mat Sadler, amongst others, began to flow into the starting line-ups, while other notable names like Colin Doyle and Sone Aluko became dependable squad members or moved on to other clubs and enjoyed relative success.
Then came the next raft of quality talent in Nathan Redmond, Jack Butland, and Demarai Gray (who has now returned home), who began their time under Westley and subsequently progressed further under Kristjan Speakman. Players like Amari’i Bell, now at Charlton, Charlie Lakin, and Rico Browne-who is now finding his feet at Walsall under the tutelage of Mat Sadler-followed. Wes Harding is another I could mention; these were all developed at the hallowed Wast Hills training ground.
It was then under Speakman and Dodds that players like Jude and Jobe Bellingham arrived in the first team, followed by standouts such as Odin Bailey, Jordan James, Alfie Chang, George Hall, and Brandon Khela, just to name a few, who have gone into the pyramid and beyond with relative success.
The academy was then disbanded again in favour of a Brentford-style ‘moneyball’ approach, which was universally panned and quietly dropped-though not before some very key staff were poached by our rivals across the Expressway, including long-time youth coach Richard Beale.
Mike Rigg is the man in charge now, with old heads like Steve Spooner in support, and it looks quite rosy down at Wast Hills. Let’s hope it stays that way.
Of all the names mentioned above, only Demarai is currently with the club-and that includes the lad who sparked this conversation. So who’s next?
Frank Tattum? I hope so. We haven’t brought a striker through the ranks for as long as I can remember. He is also the son of Blues reporter Colin, so I’d be delighted to see him get a run. He is currently on loan at a club I live two miles from, so hopefully it works out for him.
Zaid Betteka, an Algeria Under-20 international? Again, I hope so. We have a habit of producing exciting wingers, and he didn’t look out of place in our team when he made a few cameo appearances.
There are others I could name, but for me the most exciting player is Brad Mayo, the goalkeeper. We have had a conveyor belt of top-class keepers come through at St Andrew’s. Butland, for me, would be England’s number one were it not for the injuries he suffered (he still shows glimpses at Rangers of what could have been). Colin Doyle, a Blues stalwart, often a number two but incredibly dependable between the sticks, often doesn’t get enough credit.
Hopefully, Mayo comes to fruition. But I think it’s important for a club like us to value what we have, and this is less of a rant and more of an ode to the academy. Long may it continue to grow.
Keep Right On
Andrew