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An interesting insight into how things work

CWD

By CWD,
in The Saints

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CWD

CWD

Posted
Posted

Hi all.

 

Just thought people might be interested in a story I was told by John Ward-Prowse, father of another one of our talented double-barrellers. I heard this about a week ago but for obvious reasons I held out posting until today.

 

Cortese sent a letter to young James Ward-Prowse at his home address the week before the home game against Leeds, inviting himself and his family to watch the game in the directors box. None of them thought too much of this, and they went along as guests of the club.

 

At the end of the game James was called down to the changing room by Alan Pardew, who met him outside with his Dad and said how impressed he'd been by James over the last few months and how he'd like to offer him a contract. Players leaving the changing room congratulated him on their way out.

 

James got himself an agent who got him a good deal with bonuses based on first team appearances - 10k after his first pro start. John said he was able to negotiate such good terms because Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal have all been actively interested. John however wants James to stay at Saints because we are a club 'going places'.

 

 

I just thought this was an interesting insight into how AP deals with youngsters, and what a nice touch bringing him down immediately after the game.

 

Another thing that John told me was that Alex O-C, a year older than James, is a cracking little player and the club are very excited about his future.

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Ivan Katalinic's 'tache

Ivan Katalinic's 'tache

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Nice little touch. Have heard he is a cracking young player and if that is in fact true that Spurs, Chelsea & Arsenal have been sniffing around then maybe we have got a future star.

 

Not doubting the OP for a second but, if my boy becomes good enough to play for a club (hopefully Saints), I'll be saying that Spurs, Chelsea & Arsenal are all sniffing round too!!

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NickG

NickG

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Saints are delighted to announce that youngster James Ward-Prowse has received an international call-up to the England Under-17's squad.

 

The 15 year-old schoolboy has enjoyed a rapid rise in the Academy set up at the Club, having already appeared in a handful of Under-18's fixtures at the sharp end of last season playing in midfield, as Saints' youth side ended the campaign five games unbeaten.

 

Portsmouth based Ward-Prowse, who joined the set up at Under-9's level, will be involved in the squad which was recently crowned European Champions at their level, making it another feather in the cap for the youngster and for the Saints Academy.

 

England's Under-17's will be playing in the Nordics tournament held in Latvia during August, with Finland, Denmark and Iceland the Three Lions' opponents.

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NickG

NickG

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James' call-up is a significant marker for the Academy, whose policy of producing players to the highest standard continues to show.

 

Academy Manager Matt Crocker said:

 

"James has done exceptionally well in his time here, and he is a player who we have earmarked for the future.

We are in a fortunate position where we have been able to fast-track him in terms of his development, which would not have been possible without the support of Nicola Cortese, who maintains progression of the Academy at the forefront of his vision for the Club."

 

> The Saints Academy is also further encouraged by the news that 17 year-old goalkeeper Jack Dovey, has been invited to take part in an England goalkeeping development programme for two days at the National Sports centre in Lilleshall next month. The training is due to take place before he starts his second year as a scholar in the Under-18's set up.

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Block 5

Block 5

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That might be Jake Sinclair. I'm not sure.

 

Good shout SuperSAINT!

You are right...... I found the thread from back in June.

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?23323-James-Ward-Prowse&highlight=jake+sinclair

 

And an interesting find from MLG in the same thread that mentions both Jake Sinclair and James Ward-Prowse.

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1840272,00.html

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lotois-saint

lotois-saint

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And hopefully this time we should be in a strong financial position to be able to keep them, not lose them as we did with Walcott and Bale.

Thanks for that, really interesting.

 

Got to say, it looks like we have got another group of potentially outstanding players coming through. Makes me happy!

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The Cat

The Cat

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Can we have a bit more negativity on this thread please chaps.

 

He's useless. Seriously rubbish. Don't know why people are getting excited about some little kid that's still struggling to grow bum fluff on his chin and can still count his pubes on the fingers of one tiny, tiny hand.

 

Despite the fact I've never seen him play, or know anyone that has, this is FACT.

 

The quicker we get rid of him and sign another player the better.

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pap

pap

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Brilliant stuff. While I love the fact we've got 'expensive' and proven players in the squad, I also remember the joy when we saw the 'lightning in a bottle' from the likes of Shearer and Le Tissier. I would love to see more of this, and wish the youngsters well in their ascent to first team activities.

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up and away

up and away

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Brilliant stuff. While I love the fact we've got 'expensive' and proven players in the squad, I also remember the joy when we saw the 'lightning in a bottle' from the likes of Shearer and Le Tissier. I would love to see more of this, and wish the youngsters well in their ascent to first team activities.

 

:) I think you saw too much "white lightning" come out of the bottle. As great as those players were, I can never remember the term "lightning being used previously.

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saintjay77

saintjay77

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Anyone remember Jamie Hatch?

 

I met his dad not so long back and he said Jamie was offered a year contract extention when the Dutch due were here. They could only offer a year because of the financial situation at the time but Jamie wanted 2 or more years. He thought he could get better else where so told them to stick it and left.

 

He got offered a year down here in Torquay and he thought he was above league 2 so refused that too. Didnt play for a while and it seemed he had burnt his bridges but got offered a deal at Tiverton Town which is where he is now!!!

 

He was around the club with Walcott and Bale and was marked to be going places much the same as them at the time. Got to the point of being on a few grand a week and still not getting in the 1st team. Started living the dream before he actually got somewhere.

 

His dad said nothing but praise about the youth setup we once had though and it was strange to hear someone praise the dark lord so much. It was gutting to hear how things went for Jamie though and not nice to blatently see key moments where decissions could have made so much of a difference.

 

Sounds like the comitment to youth is being put into practice with the OP's story though which is nice to see. Hopefully we can push on to create a few more like Bale and Theo and make the most out of the tallent we produce.

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Deppo

Deppo

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Excellent. This is what we want to hear, not mindless bickering over whether nicola cortese is the fuhrer or a fairy god mother

 

If you don't want to hear bickering about Cortese, why bring it up? You have ruined this thread. I hate you.

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