You will notice the general profile of a youth player that makes it into the fringes of the first team is not a player that has come through since U7 or U11s or even U13s. It is a player who has been released at around U16s-U21s without getting a professional deal from the likes of AFC Wimbledon, Fulham, Brighton etc... Those are the types of players that get trusted and pushed into the fringes of the first team. 

Now as we have seen I use the word fringes, because no youth player even with this profile has ever broken into the first team and played regular games in the league. Many clubs at this level and above, do blood youngsters within the set up in certain positions. Not Dorking for some strange reason.

Even Josh Brooking who was literally released by a cat 1 academy at 21, is not a consistent starter. 

Anyway, on your question I assume he has come from a cat 1 or cat 2 academy and only spent a limited amount of time in the Dorking Wanderers set up.

Thanks to Jordan Clark and his team the Academy is thriving and is a credit to the Town. However, the progression path to the first team is still developing.

Several Academy lads are in the “B” Team at Step 6 where they are getting valuable experience playing against adult teams.  Although lying in third position, the “B” Team are not allowed to be promoted due to an FA rule, so the development route at present appears to be to loan likely prospects to clubs in Step 4 and 5.

The following are all on loan to Step 4 clubs:

Hayden Gale – South Park

Joel Brown – Moneyfields

Ollie Rawlins – Steyning Town

Neo Wooster – Lancing

Salvatore Marino – Broadbridge Heath

Mainly thanks to Ollie’s twenty odd goals this season the “B” Team are the highest scorers in their league and Jacob Todman is starting to fill the gap left by Ollie.  As well as maintaining their high league position they are also through to the League Cup final against Seaford (date to be decided) after beating Infinity on penalties in the semi final.

There are some good players coming through so the “Bs” are well worth a watch – their next home game is on Tuesday 18^th against Uckfield.

Has the club developed anyone who plays above step 4 of non-league? The "B" team plays at step 5 which is only 1 level below therefore you could argue its near enough equivalent.

@jacksonfairweather 

Dom Plank is at Hearts

Joe Rabbetts (not sure if he counts as he was at Aldershot academy first) is at Sholing in step 3

I'm sure there are others

@calvertskans Dom Plank is playing for the Hearts B team which is probably around step 4 of English non-league, he may improve above that level and he may not lets see. Joe Rabbetts literally spent his entire youth career at Aldershot. 

I do not mean to be negative here, but the youth team is literally only churning out lads that are playing around step 4-5 at best. This being the same level its "B" team plays at. It develops footballers for sure, but is it developing footballers for the 1st team?

Joe Rabbetts did very well on loan at Bognor Regis Town (step 3) too. It was a shame he didn't break through into the fringes of the 1st team considering we went down to step 2 ourselves this season.

Anyone know how high the B team are allowed to progress through the pyramid?

@adeb I believe the level they are currently at - Step 6

Yes, they are stuck at Step 6. I don't think they can go any higher until the firsts get to League 2.

Last night's win against Uckfield took them back up to third. Although they are likely to end up in the play-offs they will not be allowed to compete.

However, they are in the final of the League Cup, date and venue TBD.

@adeb They are at their limit. 

A very small handful of players from the youth set up are able to play at step 4 to step 5 level. So step 6 is good enough for the club. 

Its a better platform for developing players than any dedicated youth league you can play in, which is nowhere near as competitive as real men's football is.

Anyone watched any of the youth games? 

Carlos Richards who plays/played for the B Team and made a senior appearance in the Surrey Senior Cup against Lingfield this season, made his international debut for Gibraltar tonight!

Have we had a player with an international cap before?

In other former Academy/B Team news, Spike Steggall is playing in that 'Baller League' 6-a-side competition on Sky Sports for the John Terry managed side.

He made one senior appearance away at Yeovil Town in the FA Trophy a couple of seasons ago.

Can anyone confirm if the B team are playing tomorrow evening (Tuesday 1st) at Chessington & Hook, I can’t seem to find details on their website 🤔 

Yes, KO 7.45pm