Soccer Shorts: Kent sides give youth a chance to impress

Tonight www.kentishfootball.co.uk brings you news on youth team football at Ryman League Division One South clubs Dover Athletic and Whitstable Town.

The Oystermen are searching for a manager for their under 16 side next season.

Newly appointed Dover Athletic player-manager Andy Hessenthaler will ensure the club’s talented youngsters will get their chance at first team level, writes Stephen McCartney.

“I can confirm that Andy will be working with Richard Crutchfield, Steve Williams and myself to ensure that strong links between the manager and the youth section are formed,” director Roger Knight wrote on the fans’ forum www.dovorian.co.uk

“It is disappointing that such links have in the past been poor but Andy and the Board with to build on the excellent work being undertaken in the youth set-up and ensure that our young talent stays with Dover Athletic and hopefully come find their way into the first team.

“We hope to arrange an evening at the Centre Sport where Andy can meet all the managers and those connected with running the youth section.”

Applications are invited for the position of under 16 manager at Ryman League Division One South newcomers Whitstable Town, after Greg Smith stood down due to work commitments.

Ken Gower assisted him for part of last season and the Belmont club would like to thank them both for working with the lads.

“The youth set-up is such a vital part of the football club,” first-team manager Marc Seager told www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk.

“If you look at our side which won promotion last season, you will find that eight of the squad are a direct product of our own youth system - that’s how important it is.

“The guidance they receive at this crucial stage in their football development is very important as it sets them on the right path with good habits that will stand them in good stead during the rest of their footballing career.”

Whitstable Town’s secretary, Mr Alan Gower agrees.

He said: “I agree with Marc when he says how important the youth is to the club.

“I was very involved in the early stages of the Whitstable Town youth and many of the lads, who now play for the reserves or first team, I was involved with when they started at under 8’s and they are still at Whitstable.

“We have had some great success with the youth over the years and we need the right man in place to groom them for the step up to the under 18’s and beyond.

“It will be a challenging position but the reward will be to see the lads progress into the reserves and first team.”

Applicants are asked to send their football CV together with their qualifications to the club secretary, Mr Alan Gower, 110 Queens Road, Whitstable.

Please acknowledge www.kentishfootball.co.uk when contacting the club.