A strong Academy is the lifeblood of any club and there is nothing better for supporters than to see players break through to the first team.

Not to mention that the financial benefits from a successful youth system can help to keep a club in business. Chester’s youth academy is a case in point.

It’s been a turbulent season on the pitch for the Blues who find themselves firmly in the National League dog fight, but their youth system is proving to be the silver lining in their chaotic season.

However, the way their youth system has flourished this year is rather remarkable.

In the summer, Chester founded their scholarship scheme and it is safe to say it has been an unprecedented success.

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The squad led by manager Calum McIntyre have competed in the National League Under-19 Alliance Division K with a squad mostly made up of 17-year-old players. The difference in age doesn’t seem to have phased the young Blues as they have already won the title, are currently undefeated, and have the youngest manager and system in the league.

McIntyre told the club’s official YouTube channel, “The team have played in a league against hugely established programmes against older opposition and we’ve fielded a U17 side occasionally bolstered by an older player. They’ve been immense and out of that group of players there certainly is a crop that will progress to the first team.”

In the Premier League and in some instances the Football League, we’re used to seeing clubs having an array of top of the range equipment and top facilities to develop their youngsters.

However, the club ran into some financial difficulties earlier in the season and money can’t be pumped into the youth academy as freely as the club would like it to be.

Only the basic equipment is used; a bag of eight balls, cones and bibs but it is the players who have flourished despite the limited resources available to them.

Success Stories

Matty Waters was awarded a two-year contract by ex-boss Jon McCarthy last summer following a successful first year as a professional at the club. Since then, Waters has earned a first team place following a spell out on loan at Southern League side Sutton Coldfield.

Tom Crawford has made the transition to the first team at the Deva Stadium, after spending a few months getting a feel for senior football with Runcorn Town and Leek Town.

James Jones has been handed an England C call up and has featured regularly in Marcus Bignot’s starting XI since the turn of the new year.

Not to mention the likes of Nathan Brown who was rewarded with his first professional deal and despite failing to make the first team on a regular basis has featured on-loan at Colwyn Bay.

Youth team players Rhain Hellawell and Lloyd Marsh-Hughes have been named on the bench for National League fixtures after training with the first team during pre-season.

Additionally, in last season’s campaign Sam Hughes was Chester’s star man, yet another academy product to have thrived in the first team and the defender is currently helping Leicester City’s PL2 team with their assault on the title.

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It’s not just in the league where the youth team have excelled either. The cup competitions have proven to be another platform in which the youngsters have shone.

The National League Cup has been one to remember for the side. Over 1,000 fans packed into the stadium to support the youth side as the club tried to raise funds to keep the club running and they went home happy as the side won 1-0.

What’s more, since then another victory over Romford has sent the Cheshire club through to the semi-finals with the final a very realistic possibility.

Aside from the scholarship programme the club also operate an U18 side and once again, the team has excelled and have an unbeaten record of W11 D0 L0.

Chester’s academy this year has simply been unbeatable! And there’s still time to achieve more this season.

The problems off the pitch may be troubling for the club but the youth system proves that success can be achieved on a shoestring.