Page 98 - All Shapes & Zebras From Treorchy

“Rejoice O young man in thy youth,”
so it reads in Ecclesiastes. Perspective, when it arrives later in life, makes one consider how much easier things seemed to be at a younger age, although things never seem so straightforward from a teenager’s point of view. Nonetheless, the fun had by youth teams across the country has a heady and powerful allure attached to it for all those involved.
Earlier on, we covered ‘mini and junior
sections’ and much of the sentiment
explored there rings true for clubs’ youth
sections too. In an ideal world, a
flourishing mini and junior section leads
to keen and committed youth team players which in turn, results in success at first team level – both in terms of numbers playing and results on the pitch. These success stories do happen and when it does, clubs can rightly give themselves a good pat on the back for their industry and efforts. Some years are fallow, whereas other seasons provide youth teams from which clubs cultivate a bountiful crop of players that go on to represent the senior sides for years to come. As in life, sometimes you’re behind; sometimes you’re ahead.
96 ALL SHAPES & ZEBRAS FROM TREORCHY