Young midfielder signs

http://m.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-boy-8-signs-Premier-League-Southampton-FC/story-29331385-detail/story.html

That will **** the Bristol City chairman off and reignite the debate over our 'area'...

That video makes me laugh.

Many 8 year olds do that, I was waiting for the over head kick in the top corner.

That video makes me laugh.

Many 8 year olds do that, I was waiting for the over head kick in the top corner.

...the video clip wasn't long enough..... we don't want Liverpool stealing him too early.

That will **** the Bristol City chairman off and reignite the debate over our 'area'...

We're allowed to recruit further north than beyond what would be the usual radius as there are not too many promising young players in the middle of the English Channel.

We're allowed to recruit further north than beyond what would be the usual radius as there are not too many promising young players in the middle of the English Channel.

.......and not so many good prospects on the Isle of Wight.

We're allowed to recruit further north than beyond what would be the usual radius as there are not too many promising young players in the middle of the English Channel.

I was aware of the background to our satellite in Bath, but don't thinlk Steve Lansdowne or his former manager, Clotterill fully appreciated it.

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?48706-Steve-Lansdown-accuses-Southampton-of-quot-cheating-quot-over-Bath-Academy#.V0qw5fkrKUk

In Cotterill's case another excuse to gloss over the fact he's crap above L1, and Lansdowne should reflect on the fact that neither Bristol club have produced a significant player from their juniors (not academy in those days) since the Mabbutt brothers in the 1970's. (The better one of the two coming from Rovers anyway).

We're allowed to recruit further north than beyond what would be the usual radius as there are not too many promising young players in the middle of the English Channel.

Southampton are hardly unique in England of being close to the sea. It is a small island and a high % of clubs have coastline relatively near them.

.......and not so many good prospects on the Isle of Wight.

Oi. Uncalled for and untrue mush . There are a few, and have been others in the past. James Hayter probably most notable recently, Simon Moore, Cardiff keeper (previously at Brentford), Lee Bradbury (OK, sorry to mention a Skate), Aaron Martin. In the past (our era) Wayne Talkes for us and Kieron Baker (Bournemouth keeper in the 70s). There have been several other prospects who did not make it, my "cousin" Brian Humber played several games for the Reserves at the same time as Talkes and later went to Aldershot for a spell). Jake Flannigan in the u21s was also scouted from the Island though I think he originates from 'Ampshire.

Shouldn't forget the English Channel also includes those other small islands that have never contributed professional players (oh, except MLT and Le Saux).

There is a reason why youngsters from the Island and Channel islands do not make it, based on the need to travel frequently to the mainland for training. It is not so much the time involved (lots of kids travel an hour or more) but the expense.

Anyway, to be serious, the rules about where you can scout players for the Academy were altered about 3 or 4 years ago when we achieved Academy Category 1 status (or whatever it is).

Incidentally Alfie Jones is also from Bristol. Would be interested to know from the article who were the "many other footballers from Stanbridge" who signed for the Academy.

Southampton are hardly unique in England of being close to the sea. It is a small island and a high % of clubs have coastline relatively near them.

TRUE....but if other clubs situated in a coastal town don't have recruitment centres - where they are allowed to - it's their problem. We make our work.

OOPs !... sorry Vectis....of course you're right....(and I'm sure we must have scouted someone from Brownsea Island at one time or another...)

AND of course .....Aaron Martin and Wayne Talkes (who might have gone further than the Reserves had there not been so many good names in the first team at the time)

.......the others you mentioned weren't Saints recruits, so I hadn't considered them in the same way......

Bath seems to have been a really good source of talent for us. Gareth Bale went through their hands, and going back a bit - wasn't Jason Dodd from Bath, too?

The argument against us having a Centre in the London area was often used by those clubs not smart enough to have found the talent themselves.

If we had been restricted to the area from Boscombe to Gosport.... we would have a very small area to work in, but we still find talent there ....whilst the likes of Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea go abroad with their cheque books to buy established names, yet ignore the opportunity to develop their local talent properly.

I noted that two up-and-coming names; Harley Willard and 'fela Olomola who have been given long terms contracts (though they are still U18's) - were Arsenal "rejects".

"Callum's talent was first spotted by the club more than two years ago"

He would have been six then. Jeez.

Southampton are hardly unique in England of being close to the sea. It is a small island and a high % of clubs have coastline relatively near them.

I'd like to see the stats on that.

Aaron Martin was only born on IoW. Majority of his life and when spotted by Saints he was living in Sholing, Southampton.

Can't imagine the club will be too happy about his old man speaking to the press. His card will be marked from day 1 at the club...