Source: Northern_Echo
Praise for young Quakers
DARLINGTON'S burgeoning youth team contains several players who could make the step up to the senior ranks at the end of the season, says manager Mark Cooper, who has commended the side's FA Youth Cup exploits.[LNB] The under-18s side faced Arsenal on Tuesday and put in a battling performance before losing the third round tie 6-1.[LNB] Head of youth Craig Liddle was delighted with the team, saying: I'm really proud of them. They played a team that represents Arsenal in their reserve league, not in the youth league.[LNB] Arsenal only had a couple of English lads, the rest of them were from all over the world, and they were full of internationals but the lads kept going and gave everything.[LNB] Quakers had beaten two Football League clubs to reach the third round Accrington and Huddersfield on the way and Cooper says he likes to keep an eye on the emerging talent.[LNB] He said: They train at the same place as us and we get them involved in the firstteam training the ones who are doing well, we integrate into the group.[LNB] Craig Liddle has done a really good job and has some good players coming through.[LNB] I would think two, three or four might be turning professional.[LNB] That's always the aim, to produce your own players, to nurture them and bring them through.[LNB] It's a fantastic achievement to get that far in the Youth Cup as a Conference club.[LNB] If my first-team had played Arsenal and lost 6-1 you would've said that isn't too bad a result considering.[LNB] To put it in realistic terms, Arsenal have probably got some of the best young players in the world.[LNB]
