Now I didn't know we'd got Grant Smith. A really really good signing. Perhaps Letheren's going to get a mutual dissent, otherwise why the kid from Ipswich with Dylan Wharton saving penalties?
Back when we were in the EFL and I was suggesting players to sign from non-league Grant Smith from Boreham Wood was on the list. He was keeper of the year in the National League the season Boreham Wood finished second. He was very good back then. I don't know what went wrong for him at Lincoln but as a perennial critic of keepers I'm prepared to give him more than a chance. Best signing since Asante? Unless something has gone very wrong in his career he is a big step up from Letheren.
Long term I think a second team is essential, otherwise what do you do with a 17 year old who isn't going to be ready till he's 19 or 20? How do you find developing talent, where do you try it out otherwise. Ideally they'd play in something competitive like Plymouth's Reserves in the SW Peninsula. Luke Jephcott, top scorer in Division One played in that team, moved to Truro on loan to step up and is now a hot property. Cooper their young keeper is also catching eyes as well as crosses having come through the reserves.
Like Matt though I'm worried about funding, especially with National North and South suspending for 2 weeks. If there is nowhere for us to loan players to we've got a huge squad for this level, and somebody like Luke Rawson urgently needs games to develop. Maybe we can loan to Kings Lynn, Ian Culverhouse seems keen on our cast-offs (which is worrying, because he really knows what he is doing!)
Back when we were in the EFL and I was suggesting players to sign from non-league Grant Smith from Boreham Wood was on the list. He was keeper of the year in the National League the season Boreham Wood finished second. He was very good back then. I don't know what went wrong for him at Lincoln but as a perennial critic of keepers I'm prepared to give him more than a chance. Best signing since Asante? Unless something has gone very wrong in his career he is a big step up from Letheren.
Long term I think a second team is essential, otherwise what do you do with a 17 year old who isn't going to be ready till he's 19 or 20? How do you find developing talent, where do you try it out otherwise. Ideally they'd play in something competitive like Plymouth's Reserves in the SW Peninsula. Luke Jephcott, top scorer in Division One played in that team, moved to Truro on loan to step up and is now a hot property. Cooper their young keeper is also catching eyes as well as crosses having come through the reserves.
Like Matt though I'm worried about funding, especially with National North and South suspending for 2 weeks. If there is nowhere for us to loan players to we've got a huge squad for this level, and somebody like Luke Rawson urgently needs games to develop. Maybe we can loan to Kings Lynn, Ian Culverhouse seems keen on our cast-offs (which is worrying, because he really knows what he is doing!)