Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Cherries: The kids are still all right
WHEN they embarked upon their footballing journeys, Victoria Park on a Tuesday evening was probably not the destination they had dreamed about.[LNB] But for a host of ex-Cherries prospects, that was where they found themselves last month.[LNB] The Dean Court production line has provided Eddie Howe and his predecessors with plenty of homegrown stars in recent seasons, but it is also doing its bit for the grass roots game.[LNB] While some of their contemporaries and successors like Josh McQuoid and Adam Lallana found themselves involved in a League One derby at St Mary's last weekend, those who did not make the grade were in less glamorous surroundings.[LNB] And with McQuoid and Joe Partington aiming to play a part in front of the Sky TV cameras at Brighton today, some of their old team-mates will be demonstrating their qualities in front of far smaller audiences.[LNB] A love for the sport means the hopefuls who missed out on life in the professional ranks still lace on their boots with as much gusto as ever. And for some, the chance to one day climb back up the footballing ladder is a driving force.[LNB] When reigning Wessex League champions Poole Town and rivals Bournemouth Poppies locked horns on September 21, around half of the players that ended the match began their careers with AFC Bournemouth.[LNB] Learning their trade through the club's youth set-up, they all aimed for a place among the senior players.[LNB] For some, such as Carl Preston and George Webb, who found themselves on opposing sides, there was involvement in the first team.[LNB] Others, including Poppies captain Jason Harvell, Poole midfielders James Rowe and Micky Hubbard and Poppies' goalscorer in the 2-1 loss, Fawzi Saadi, featured for the reserves.[LNB] But rather than becoming embittered by the disappointment of being shown the door, players such as Harvell feel their time with Cherries provided a good grounding to go on and star in the semi-professional ranks.[LNB] I was there for roughly nine years, explains the Wimborne-based stopper. When you are in and around a professional set-up, it does stand you in good stead to play non-league football because you learn good training techniques and learn a lot from them.[LNB] But perhaps more important than the footballing skills gleaned from their time at Dean Court is the other valuable lessons provided by the Cherries apprenticeships.[LNB] For Hubbard, 23, life skills proved equally, if not more key.[LNB] It probably helped me in my life, even though I didn't make it, admits Hubbard, who works as a team leader for Southern Gas Networks.[LNB] It made me more disciplined in the stuff I do.[LNB] Now I've got a decent job and I play a good standard of football with mates, as well as good players.[LNB] One of the men required to make the tough calls on the hopefuls is Cherries under-18s coach Joe Roach. He was in attendance at Victoria Park to see many of his ex-pupils in action. As well as Harvell, Hubbard, Preston, Rowe, Saadi and Webb, other former Cherries included Dan Cann, Sean Hogan, Nic Jones and Matt Kemble.[LNB] Despite his primary role being to produce players for Cherries, Roach is pleased to see his old charges remaining in the game by enriching the local non-league scene.[LNB] It's about the football education and there's a lot of enjoyment and opportunities in non-league football if you go the right way with it, he says.[LNB] We are, in many respects, feeding the local non-league clubs with good lads who've had what I'd like to think is a good grounding.[LNB] And hence the reason why they are playing in those numbers at what is a relatively young age for some of them.[LNB] Roach also believes that, sometimes, players need to drop down in order to go back up.[LNB] For proof of that, and for a source of inspiration, the ex-Cherries need only look as far as Jordan Rose.[LNB] Released from Dean Court, he found himself with Bashley before working his way up the non-league ladder. Now, Rose is back in the pro ranks with Stockport County. As his progression demonstrates, there can be a second bite of the cherry.[LNB] For the likes of Hubbard, the belief they can rise back up the levels remains.[LNB] I still think, in my head, I'm good enough to play higher, he adds, having trained with Conference South outfit Dorchester Town in the summer.[LNB] All the lads who played on that Tuesday at Poppies could play higher it's just getting that opportunity again.[LNB]
