Youngsters cup win is a sign of things to come

By Nathan Jackson
April 25 2007

Tuesday night's League Cup final victory over Hartlepool United saw several promising youngsters running out for City. With the club gaining a reputation for producing great youngsters, we take a look at how good the players in the current set up are, and what impact they could make given a chance.

The youth team has produced some great talents in recent years, such as current first team player, Lee Frecklington. It has also produced some players who have gone on to play for teams at a higher level, Darren Huckerby, Paul Mayo, Jack Hobbs and Scott Loach have all progressed out of the youth team and gone on to play in a much higher division. This latest batch of players has a few hidden gems in it as well, some of whom have already made their first team bow.

 

The most obvious new talent to Imps fans is Owain Warlow, a player who has featured for the first team in recent times, although he hasn’t made a first team appearance since the draw at Hartlepool. He has made 5 League appearances for the Imps this season, all of which came from the bench and the naturally gifted left-footer could “do a Frecklington” and progress into the first team next season if Jeff Hughes leaves for a reportedly interested Championship club. The Welsh Under 21 is certainly one to watch for the future.

 

Shane Clarke is another youngster prospect could also have a bright future ahead of him, captaining the young Imps to the victory over Hartlepool on Tuesday evening. He has yet to make a first team appearance for the Imps, only being an unused substitute in the JP Trophy defeat to Grimsby Town. Although competition for places in the midfield is fierce at Sincil Bank, given time Clarke could become a key figure in the middle of the park for the Imps.

 

They are just two of several youngsters emerging through the ranks at Sincil Bank and given time and guidance, these youngsters could easily form the basis of the Imps squad in a few years. It’s a similar situation to that at Manchester United in the mid-90s, several brilliant youngsters waiting in the wings to strike. They burst onto the scene on a warm August afternoon against Aston Villa in 1995, losing 3-1. Pundits said that Manchester United would fade away, only to then become stronger than ever, and with some of the youngsters we have coming through the ranks at Sincil Bank, there’s no reason why these youngsters can’t have a similar impact on the first team.

 

With John Schofield in charge of team selection it seems just a matter of time before he gives each youngster their chance in the first team, and maybe Schofield is the best man to guide these youngster’s into the first 11 after being their coach throughout their time at the club so far. Obviously you'll get some players come through the ranks that aren't good enough to play league football, Ollie Ryan and Leon Mettam coming to mind, but hopefully the majority of youngsters will be able to challenge for a first team place.

 

The youth setup we have at Lincoln City is already one of the best in League 2, and hopefully we’ll gain a reputation similar to Crewe Alexandra and Manchester United for giving youngsters a chance.

 

The future’s bright, the future’s red and white.