The Academy preseason is an extremely busy but fantastic opportunity for us to fully prepare for the exciting season ahead, for all our young players, staff and parents across the age groups.
Our u18s and u16/15s will be the first squads back as they will follow the first team schedule not only ensuring they are ready for the start of competitive fixtures in August but also so as they are ready if called upon to support and first team fixtures throughout preseason.
Returning on the 27th June the players will go through a series of inductions with department heads as well as club personnel, to set standards and expectations of the season ahead. They will also carry out initial heart screening and preseason testing, which will give an indication of where the players are at ahead of their return to training and playing games. Over the offseason each scholar has an individualised detailed plan tailored to the individuals needs, that our Head of sports science Conor Neeson has put in place for the players.
As part of our close relationships with a number of local clubs the scholars will play a series of friendlies against a mix of youth and senior opposition that will give the group the right challenges needed across the month.
The team will visit:
Cwmbran Celtic
Gloucester City
Caldicot Town
Abergavenny Town
Be sure to follow and Look out across the Academies social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find out dates, times and locations of these games taking place throughout July.
We will then have our Academy u14s to u9s returning ahead of their EFL games programme which is due to start on the first weekend of September. The players will return mid August after a well deserved summer break. They will also undertake a series of inductions and testing upon their return with some friendly games being scheduled ahead of their first game of the season.
The league fixtures due to start in September are made up of other category 3 academy sides, where the the young Exiles will travel to face:
Bristol Rovers
Cheltenham Town
Exeter City
Forest Green Rovers
Oxford United
Plymouth Argyle
Swindon Town
We will then welcome back our Shadow squads u9s to u16s, Girls teams u10, u12, u14 and u16 as well as our pre academy age groups u7 to u8s after the school holidays for September. The squads here act as the bridge between the Academy and grassroots football, with players being able represent and play for the club badge and also have access to Academy designed training from the club.
If you are interested in your son or daughter obtaining a place in any of these squads for September, please contact our head of recruitment Jason.Holmes@Newport–county.co.uk who will be in touch if there are any available places at the Academy, but please be aware that places are limited. Also do keep an eye out on social media for any recruitment or trial dates which will be posted in the coming weeks.
I would just like to end with a big Thank you to everybody involved in our Academy this season, those who play a huge part in ensuring we are the best we can be, from the 350 players involved throughout everyday of the week, the 48 staff and volunteers who work tirelessly, the clubs support from the board to the first team and the club office staff, but also the hundreds of parents, guardians and grand parents who commit each week and support the players along their journeys it really is recognised and appreciated immensely.
To those moving on from the Academy, thank you for your time and commitment to the club, everybody at the Academy and club wishes you all the best and good luck in your next venture.
We now look ahead to another successful Academy season and welcoming back all new and old faces across our Academy squads throughout the preseason schedule.
I hope everybody enjoys their well deserved break and has a great summer.
Damien Broad
Academy Manager