Gloucester City Youth
2007-2008

City's youngsters had a solid campaign last season, especially as the team featured mainly players in the first of their two available years in this age bracket. They followed on from a side that in 2006 produced the most succesful ever record of any City under-18s team, but with most of those players moving on before the start of last season it was rightly billed mainly as a season of consolidation. With much of last season's side still with the City Youth set-up further progress is expected in the coming campaign with the players now older, stronger and more experienced. The current youth crop can also already boast one youngster, midfielder and youth skipper Sam Ellis, who has broken into the first team squad and made his full debut this season - others may well get a chance to join him as the year goes on.


MYF League Campaign 2007-08
The City youth team face another hard season as the MYFL Southern Division expands to 13 teams with the addition of new club Archdales 73 from the outskirts of Worcester. Bewdley Town move from the Western Division to replace last season's Southern Division title winners Redditch United who take their place in the MYFL Premier division.
MYFL Southern teams for 07-08: Alvechurch, Archdales 73, Bewdley Town, Bishop's Cleeve, Bromsgrove Rovers, Bromyard Town, Cinderford Town, Gloucester City, Hereford United, Malvern Town, Pershore Town, Stourport Swifts and Wellington.
Like the senior side the youth team has abandoned our Meadow Park home for the season after the flooding of July 2007. Unless otherwise stated most home youth games this season are expected to be played at Hartpury College.

The City season has started strongly with an undefeated opening three league games, despite the flooding and exile from Meadow Park meaning the Tigers' youngsters are yet to play a home league match. The opening fixture saw an impressive 3-1 win at Division 2 outfit Hereford United, while the only points dropped were in a highly credible 1-1 draw at early season league leaders Bewdley.

FA Youth Cup 2007-08
City's recent love affair with the FA Youth Cup continued after the young Tigers edged out South Gloucestershire neighbours Mangotsfield United in a tightly contested 3-2 win at Wilsoe Road, Slimbridge. The result sends the u-18s through to a tricky tie at Merthyr Tydfil in the final qualifying round - and the winners know the prize is an enticing trip to face Swansea City in the 1st Round proper.

The Youth Team must have feared the worst when the draw of the national youth cup competition took place in the summer. Not only did the u-18s face a long trip to face Blue Square Premier outfit Exeter City in the preliminary round tie, the Devon side also knocked them out of last season’s competition 7-0 at the 3rd qualifying round stage. However the Gloucester side held their nerve to gain some revenge with a fantastic 3-0 victory. That then set up a tantalising local derby against another Blue Square Premier side, Forest Green Rovers - with the Nailsworth club's senior side also now landlords of the City senior side who are currently sharing the New Lawn stadium after the summer flood damage to Meadow Park. That match played at Slimbridge's ground produced one of the finest results in the Youth Team's recent campaigns - a further thumping 3-0 win, with a fine team performance topped off by a hatrick by Alex Cuthbert and only a fine display by the Rovers keeper finally kept the score down.

For more information on the City Youth side scroll down the page or click here.

Fixtures & Results 2007/8

Date	Opponents	Result	Scorers (where known)
30 August 07	Hereford United (a)	3-1	Cuthbert, Ellis, Sysom(pen)
3 September 07	Malvern Town (a)	2-1	Cuthbert, Claridge
11 September 07	Exeter City (a) FAYCpr	3-0	Dowdswell(2), Sysom
17 September 07	Bewdley Town (a)	1-1
27 September 07	Forest Green Rovers (h) FAYC1q @ Wisloe Road, Slimbridge	3-0	Cuthbert(3)
3 October 07	Racing Club Warwick (a) LC1	2-3
18 October 07	Mangotsfield United (h) FAYC2q @ Wisloe Road, Slimbridge	3-2	Ellis, Sysom(2,1pen)
24 October 07	Merthyr Tydfil (a) FAYC3q	1-0
31 October 07	Archway 73 (a)	2-0
7 November 07	Swansea City (a) FAYC1	0-5
12 November 07	Wellington (a)
22 November 07	Bishops Cleeve (a)
26 November 07	Bromsgrove Rovers (a)
3 December 07	Bromyard Town (a)
10 December 07	Cinderford Town (a)
10 January 08	Hereford United (h)
17 January 08	Malvern Town (h)
21 January 08	Pershore Town (a)
28 January 08	Stourport Swifts (a)
7 February 08	Wellington (h)
14 February 08	Alvechurch (a)
21 February 08	Archdales 73 (h)
3 March 08	Bishops Cleeve (h)
10 March 08	Bromsgrove Rovers (h)
17 March 08	Bromyard Town (h)
24 March 08	Cinderford Town (h)
tba	Bewdley Town (h)
tba	Alvechurch (h)
tba	Stourport Swifts (h)

 

 

 

* Result after extra time.

For further information on tables visit the Midland Floodlit Youth League website.

All matches listed above are in the Midland Floodlit Youth League Southern Division unless stated.
The youth team also enter and play in the FA Youth Cup, the MFYL League Cup and the Gloucestershire County FA Youth Cup.

Fixtures and kick-off times are subject to alteration. 
Unless otherwise stated City youth team home games are played at Hartpury College with a 7:30pm kick-offs.
Admission is a mere £2 for adults and free for under-16s.

City Youth Under-18s football

Gloucester City's youth team features players up to the age of 18. The side plays in the Southern Division of the Midlands Floodlit Youth League
and has had a great deal of success since first entering the competition in 1992. The MFYL Southern Division title was won in 1998/99, 2000/01 and most recently in 2005/6. Last season's side had a great deal to live up to as 2005-06 was the most succesful ever for a City under-18s side, not only winning the league title but also capturing the Gloucestershire FA Youth Shield, reaching the final of the MFYL League Cup and progressing to the competition proper of the FA Youth Cup. Financial limitations currently prevent extra travelling so the club opted not to take promotion to the Premier Division, but with key players from the title winning side moving on having passed the 18 years-old age limit last season saw a period of rebuilding and learning. With much of last season's side still with the City Youth set-up further progrerss is expected in the coming campaign with the players older, stronger and more experienced.

The youth team also has a strong record of producing players who go on to play for the Gloucester City first team. The 2006 season's youth skipper Jamie Reid and left-back Michael Noakes are both now in the City first team squad while other recent graduates include Tom Webb who is now a regular first team selections. Both Lyndon Tomkins and Jody Bevan also started their careers with the Tigers youngsters before joining the City first team from Cinderford Town. Neil Griffiths and Lee Smith have both played hundreds of City first team games before moving on to other local clubs, in Smith's case for a decent transfer fee that shows there is also a financial benefit to bringing young players through the ranks, a benefit even greater now Smith has returned to the City fold! Of the current crop of youth players both defender Ben Ashford and midfielder Sam Ellis have already featured in the first team squad.
 
The current youth team boss is former City striker Kenny Blackburn (left) who maintains the close link with the first team where he
also helps with coaching.

After the flooding of July 2007 the Youth Team currently play home games at Hartpury College (normally on Monday evenings) and are always grateful for support with matches often great entertainment as well as providing a glimpse of our future stars. The youth team receives financial support equivalent to £50 a week from Gloucester City Supporter's Trust and is sponsored by Severn Signs, but they are still urgently seeking further sponsorship to cover kit and travel costs.

Gloucester City Boys Football

The budding football stars of the future now have an opportunity to test themselves in a higher standard of football in Gloucester City colours as the club has joined a new junior league providing a range of competitions for under 16s.

The Midland Junior Premier League bridges the gap between professional club acadamies and local junior sides and hopes to attract new grant funding and sponsorship. All clubs have to meet standards of coaching with medical and welfare provision for their young players. More than 20 clubs signed up to the new league with Hereford, Worcester, Cirencester, Tamworth and Cinderford amongst those likely to play City’s under 16 side next season. It is hoped the new teams will generate a regular flow of quality into the City youth side and on into the first team squad.

As a result Gloucester City are now developing further junior sides to play at this senior level of competition, ensuring players get a chance to develop in our style of football from a young age. Over the last couple of seasons this area of the club has grown spectacularly with teams now operating successfully at each age group from under-12s through to under-16s. All age groups are coached to a highly qualified level, with recent recruits to the operation including former Southampton star Shayne Bradley (u-12s) and local footballing hero Kevin Willetts (u-15s) who enjoyed a career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Kidderminster Harriers and Ch#!tenham Town as well as City before taking up youth coaching.
Those interested in finding out more or taking part should initially contact City's Youth Football co-ordinator David Miller.

The teams are about enjoyment and development, but of course silverware and glory is also welcome! The boys have recently won:
Junior Premier League Under 12 Champions 2005 /06
Junior Premier League Under 12 Amros League Cup winners 2006 /07

The boys are keen for support and play their football on Saturday mornings and lunchtimes, often at Plock Court or Gloucester City Cricket club venues.

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Results & Fixtures

Index

Youth Team 05-06

1st Team Players