City decide to pull out of FA Youth Cup (From Worcester News)

City decide to pull out of FA Youth Cup

7:00am Saturday 4th July 2009

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WORCESTER City have withdrawn from the FA Youth Cup amid a review of the club’s football development scheme.

The team were due to face Solihull Moors in the preliminary round but have pulled out of the competition, handing their opponents a bye.

City’s youngsters, who have reached the third qualifying round in the past, have also resigned from the Midland Combination, a league in which they won the Challenge Vase last season.

Officials at the St George’s Lane club have declined to comment on the reasons for the resignations but finances, including entry fees and transport costs, are believed to be a major factor.

Students combine playing football with an academic qualification over two years at Worcester College of Technology, effectively making it City’s academy.

The course is funded by the Learning and Skills Council but the Deansway college is cutting back on the money it spends hiring pitches and coaches at City.

Talks have taken place between both parties over a new format for the scheme but nothing has yet been finalised.

“The course is still going to go ahead,” said college principal Chris Morecroft. “Like all colleges, money is tight so we have had some budgets cuts.

“Nothing has been finalised as to how it will operate next year but essentially we won’t pay for some services from the football club.

“The academy is still going to operate in college rather than up at the football club.”

But he added: “We are still providing players for them to select for the first team.”

The 2009 intake will begin their course as planned on Monday and the students will continue to compete at national level in the English Colleges League.

Youth development officer Ray Woods, at the programme’s helm since its inception eight years ago, will continue to run the course.

However, Woods, who is employed by the college, has been left in the dark by the Blue Square South club over future plans.

The scheme was set up to provide a stream of talent to the first team and has produced the likes of player-of-the-season Shabir Khan, Gary Walker and Matt Dins-more. Sam Wedgbury, who moved to Sheffield United in 2006, was also a former player in the scheme.

Manager Richard Dryden has embraced the system and has not been afraid to blood youngsters in competitive matches.