Youth is being given its chance to shine at Kings Langley.
With manager, Jordan Parkes, showing a willingness to give young talent an opportunity over the course of the campaign, five members of the Under-18s were involved in last weekend’s Pitching In Southern League Division One Central encounter with Welwyn Garden City.
Flinn Filler started the game in the heart of the side, with George Cain and Rhys Farquharson-Leigh joining the action off the bench and Freddie Lowe and Archie Horsman unused substitutes.
It was a proud moment for the club’s Head of Youth Football, Ashley Lawrence, who has been involved with the club for almost a decade.
“It's always a fantastic feeling to see young players representing the club at first team level and to have five of our Under-18 team in the first team squad for the last game was particularly special,” Lawrence told us. “We've always strived to provide a pathway for our most talented young players to progress to senior football and this was a great example of that aspiration in action.
“The biggest compliment I can give to those youngsters that have stepped up this season is that they haven't looked out of place at all and its testament to their performances that the first team coaches have continued to turn to our Under 18 team throughout this season and we'd love to see that continue for the long-term.
“It's great for the whole club to see youngsters getting this opportunity and our youth set-up continues to grow significantly year on year.
“Our primary objective remains to provide opportunities for all local young people to play football, regardless of experience or ability, but it is also important that we're able to provide a platform for the most talented players to progress.
“We've seen a number of players pass through the club on their way to the professional game in recent years, most notably Jamie Jellis at Walsall, as well as the likes of Shaq Forde, on loan from Watford, and with the crop of youth players we currently have, we are hopeful that this number will increase in the years ahead.
“The club have worked with [first-team manager] Jordan [Parkes] in various capacities for a number of years and his commitment to youth is what has made him such a good fit for us as a club. We have a good reputation for giving young local talent an opportunity to shine.
“There are hundreds of volunteers involved in the club in some capacity and we all do it to help young people progress in some way, shape or form. If they're capable of being part of our first team or for our youngest teams, being part of the first-team matchday experience as mascots, then that's a fantastic endorsement of all the work that goes on behind-the-scenes here.”
Club Director Lawrence, who previously worked at Kick It Out, football's equality and inclusion campaign, also coaches one of the younger age groups at the club and his 14 year-old son already has eight seasons of representing the club under his belt.
“I'm a lifelong football fan and have followed non-League football from as far back as I can remember,” he continued. “I've been watching Kings Langley's first team for ten years now and have been involved in the club since 2016.
“Coaching the youngsters and being part of nurturing them through the pathway is so rewarding and something that I am extremely passionate about.
“It’s a real team effort with so much commitment and determination from players, coaches and parents alike.”
IMAGE: Kings Langley FC
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