Mousehole AFC’s policy of offering Academy places to youngsters from professional clubs has taken a step further forward this week.
Ex-Sheffield United youngster Jorome Slew, 19, first choice striker with The Seagulls since the start of the season, has recently been joined by 18-year old defender Max Hill from Leeds United and a talented 20-year old local midfielder Connor Davey signing on from Helston Athletic.
The trio have committed to the newly-created Academy for 16-23-year olds under Director Jason Blunt alongside a dozen or so local youngsters, with this group of players forming two-thirds of Mousehole’s First team match-day squad. Designed to set new standards for young players in West Cornwall, the Academy, together with Youth team developments, is the backbone of the club’s long-term playing philosophy and strategy, which was in evidence in recent games with all but five players in the match-day squad aged 20 or under.
Jason Blunt – who managed the Leeds United Under-23s team before launching Mousehole Endorsed Academy in July – is a passionate advocate of giving youth its chance: “These lads have had an impressive football education, playing at the highest level at their professional clubs. It’s unfortunately typical that many of them, when released, tend to join a semi-professional non-league club, perhaps at Steps 1 or 2, train briefly once or twice a week, but then sit on the bench on match days. We can do better than that. If they come here, they will train and receive top-class coaching five days a week and get First team game time in men’s football. While here they are responsible for setting new standards, mentoring of the younger players in the junior sides, refereeing their games, providing a role model for them to look up to, and helping to raise the bar with our other Elite Players. They will not be paid by the club, but we’ll support them with their education and work opportunities along with all of our club members. We are absolutely dedicated to promoting player development and if we can help any of our elite players progress and get signed up by a pro club, that will be a huge success!”
With more announcements imminent, the club is continuing to progressively build its leadership team and will also add one or two more playing staff, aiming for the squad to be fully assembled in time for the re-opening of the new-look Trungle Parc on Sunday 1st October when Leeds United are the distinguished visitors.
