Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
I am puzzled at the level that every Dorking Wanderers youth team from U15s down to U7s plays at.
The Dorking Wanderers elite youth team is labelled under the "Elite" branding. However, they actually play in a grassroots sunday league known as the Surrey Youth league. The other top teams play in another grassroots league called Epsom and Ewell Youth league.
To provide an example of the level of the Surrey Youth League the top teams in it at U13s are the likes of Claygate, Ascot, Motspur Park, Chipstead, Met Police. These clubs are completely amateur.
Why does the youth section still persist playing at such a low level? Why are they not playing National League South and National League Premier teams in those leagues?
I get that the club has grown very fast, but we have been playing at National League South since 2019-2020 season. We have had 5 seasons since 2019-2020 season and the youth section is still completely amateur and grassroots.
If the club wants to move on and progress, then they need ASAP to have teams in the academy leagues from U7s all the way up to U15s.
Perhaps the reason why Marc has no faith in his young players is because they are all playing at a completely amateur grassroots level all the way through. I get that at U16s and U18s we get the players released from other academies but it would be good bring through our own players from the youth section. To achieve that they need to playing at a higher level.
I think it's great to see youngsters walking though town in their team tracksuits, harsh reality is most of them won't earn anything playing football but if they can study and get a job in leisure, be it at a sports centre, coaching, earning a bit doing refereeing, or being a kit man like Mitch, then fantastic.
I wouldn't get too hung up on what level the DW set up plays at, if they rise above the step 6 level of the B team, like Rabbetts and Black, then they get to go on loan to clubs in higher leagues
DW don't hold anyone back, but the reality is we are working mostly with youngsters that haven't been in elite academies.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
@dorking-eagle Yeah agreed and a successful academy takes years and years to build and see any sort of return on. The main thing is it is great for the local kids and the community and gives them an opportunity.
I hear that not only have Bromley got to replace their 3G pitch now they are in League 2 but they will also lose the grant for their Academy.
I was pleased to hear that Bromley are going to relay their 3G on some adjacent land, so it will be interesting to see how that goes (from a point of view of can these pitches be relaid and moved)
If so, it gives DW hope for the future (ie take the one at Meadowbank to Westhumble)
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
@dorking-eagle Although it would be costly, hopefully it is a brand new one for Westhumble as the Meadowbank pitch is dreadful.
Meadowbank pitch would be fine if they didn't dump tons of black rubber crumb on it (way more than it needs) every couple of years
It's massively overloaded with rubber bits
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Meadowbank pitch would be fine if they didn't dump tons of black rubber crumb on it (way more than it needs) every couple of years
It's massively overloaded with rubber bits
Yes other plastic pitches I have seen such as Horsham and Chatham are far better and don't have black rubber crumbs. Do you know how old it is - is it past it's best and need replacing?
Summer of 2018.
I have no idea how long these things last, I guess it depends how many hours they are used for per week.
Whyteleafe's is worse than ours to be fair.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Carshalton's and South Park's is better than ours too as have played on it this season. I am guessing the company that supplies our pitch has it in their contract that they dump tons of rubber crumbs on it as part of the contract. All part of the "servicing" and a post installation money maker.
It does not always have an even bounce and clearly a injury hazard for us...Looks like we got taken to the cleaners for it.
Surely at a minimum we dump that supplier. To 3G westhumble it is around 400k all in.
Current pitch would be fine if moved to Westhumble. The only issue with our pitch is at elite level where the pace and movements are quicker and the risk of injury is higher.
It would be fine for youth football.
