Sporting Director, Dan Ashworth, has expressed his desire to recruit talented young players from the Newcastle area. Having made bulking up the youth teams at Benton one of the priorities since joining the club, Ashworth is hoping to prevent local lads from having to move south to achieve their dream of becoming a professional footballer.
The Magpies have a history of allowing some of the best local talent to slip through their fingers, the most famous being Alan Shearer, who didn’t make the grade as a youngster on Tyneside. Other Geordies that were released before they could achieve their dream of playing at St James’ Park, include Michael Carrick, Peter Beardsley, and current squad member, Dan Burn.
“Back to the model, it is making sure we are exceptional in all areas of our recruitments,” Ashworth said.
“Now that might be recruiting into our Academy centres and foundation areas, where there’s a restriction where you have to recruit within an hour of Newcastle. So of course, our goal is to make sure we don’t miss a player within an hour of Newcastle. We have to make sure we get the best talent but it’s competitive. Just as it is in Birmingham, London.”
Via [ChronicleLive]
One local lad that has made the breakthrough at the club recently is Elliot Anderson. The 20-year-old midfielder – who was born in Whitley Bay – had an impressive campaign on loan at Bristol Rovers last season and was rewarded with a place in Eddie Howe’s squad for this Premier League season.
Ashworth highlighted Anderson as a shining example of what can happen if young locals are nurtured through the ranks at Benton.
“Not only do we have to make sure we have the best recruitment staff we have the story to tell. Why come to Newcastle? What is the pathway through? Somebody like Elliot Anderson is a lovely success story for a young player that has been here for a long period of time.
“He’s come through the system, got his way into the squad and will hopefully have a really important career with us.”