While our first team have been going strong in the Northern Premier League, our educational academy has also seen some fine performances, with us putting out three midweek teams, a side in the FA Youth Cup and for the first time in the club’s history we have fielded an under 21s side, which is made up our players from the academy.

And coach Josh Law is happy with how the season has started. “The lads have done really well so far,” he explained. “In the Youth Alliance League, we have only played two games because of the Youth Cup run, a 5-0 win away to Long Eaton and a 2-1 loss at Ilkeston Town. This league is a very good test again this year, our side is very young with the majority of the players being first years, with one or two second years. Whereas a lot of opposition will have third year players, who will be 19 years old and a lot more physical and a different type of challenge, which is fantastic for the development of our players.

“We have two teams in SCL League, the Blacks who have won their opening four games and are top of the league at present and then the Ambers who have won two and lost two.

“So overall the start of the season has been a credit to the lads’ mentality and their effort day in day out.”

And despite the lack of pre-season due to the coronavirus pandemic and a “different” start to training which saw the players working in small groups with no contact, Law is happy with how they have improved so far.

He said: ”There has been good progression since the start of the season, both individually and as teams.

“The lack of pre-season games could have been a difficult one, but the work that was put in during training made sure that the players were ready to competitive games. The curriculum and individual development plans we have in place make sure we leave no stone unturned for them as a group and we feel that it gives them a great chance of progressing if they embrace it.”

And their improvement has shown in the FA Youth Cup where we have reached the second-round proper for the first time in the club’s history, after a 4-1 win over Port Vale under 18s, an achievement that Law heaped praise on.

“I am hugely proud of the players,” Law said. “It’s all well having the ability, which they quite clearly do, but what has impressed myself, the gaffer (Steve Chettle), and Callum (Chettle) the most is the togetherness and the humility they have to go and work for each other.

“They have got through five tough games to get to this point as a squad and as we have said all along it will take a good team to beat them if they play with hunger and desire on top of their ability.”

Law also believes that the run has given a lift to the whole set up.

He said: “I think it’s been fantastic for the whole academy.
“The boys who haven’t been in the squads have still been to the games and cheered the lads playing on and this is everything we try and create, a togetherness, a genuine, hardworking, learning environment.”

Since the draw for the second-round proper was made the country has been put into lockdown stopping our academy sides playing any competitive football but Law is looking on the bright side, in that the rules allow our players to continue training alongside their education programme.

Law said: “It’s not ideal (not being able to play matches), nothing beats game time but we have been fortunate that we can train and get ourselves prepared in the best way possible for the match.”

The prize for Law’s side if they overcome Grimsby is Premier League side West Bromwich Albion at Greenwich Avenue. Although Law is not looking past the second-round game.

“It’s a massive prize, a Premier League team at home it doesn’t get much bigger,” he said. “But Grimsby is our only focus right now, it’s a bit of history as it’s the first time as a club we have got this far in the competition, so this occasion alone is fantastic.

“It will be a very tough game from the footage we have seen of them, but as I’ve eluded to, if we go and put our marker down on the night and embrace the occasion then we can go and cause problems again.”

Away from midweek football we have entered an under 21s side in the Midlands Premier League, which is aimed at helping the players make the step up the first team. Again, we have a young side in that competition compared to our opposition but this is something Law believes will benefit his players.

“It’s going to be a good bridge between the academy and first team football,” Law explained. “The campaign so far has been great, the games are fast and physical, exactly what we want to see. It shows us where the young lads are at in terms of the physical side of it, competing against lads that are sometimes four or five years older than them, which they will get if they can get into the first team.”

And five players so far this season have done exactly that, with Wayde Hines and Rory Harrison making their debuts, the former also scoring his first goal for the club. For Law this is the perfect incentive for his players.

He said: “it’s a fantastic experience for them (to be involved in the first team). Against it shows the pathway is clear, do well in the academy games and the under 21s and you will get the rewards.

“That’s now two debuts this season with a further three lads in match day squads. Now they have a taste of it, it should drive them on even more. And for the academy lads that are aspiring to that it serves as a reminder that the opportunity is there with the gaffer if he feels you are ready.”