FA Youth Cup final: Fulham profit by investing in youth

 
Moving on up: Patrick Roberts is among the youth players to have made the transition into Fulham’s first team this season
Giuseppe Muro28 April 2014

Fulham are in danger of relegation from the Premier League but their academy is flourishing into one of the finest in the country.

The youth system at Craven Cottage did not have a great history of producing players but, thanks to a decision taken five years ago, that is beginning to change. Ten youngsters from Fulham’s production line have made their first-team debut this season, including highly rated teenagers Moussa Dembele and Patrick Roberts.

The club are serious about youth development and there are signs that something special is happening under the guidance of academy director Huw Jennings. Their Under-18s have won three successive Premier League crowns and are challenging for the title again this year. Tonight, they host Chelsea in the first leg of the FA Youth Cup Final.

Fulham have built foundations for long-term success and are starting to reap the rewards of work started five years ago by former Jennings.

“Talent needs harnessing and opportunity,” said Jennings. “When I joined the club, [Fulham chief executive] Alistair Mackintosh was very clear that he wanted to give Fulham an identity for youth development. In the time I have been here, we have created a culture that has enabled our players to reach their full potential.

“What I think we needed was a ‘can-do mentality’ among the players. We set about trying to recruit the right individuals who believe they can succeed. But there is no substitute for hard work. Fundamentally, I have always thought that if you get the right personalities among the players, they develop themselves with our guidance.”

Jennings is quick to stress the importance of creating “pathways” to the senior side. Academy members are regularly integrated into first-team training. Some go on loan to gain experience. Players are given time to develop together in a competitive environment and there has been no shift in emphasis since Shahid Khan took over.

The FA Youth Cup is a valuable part of that development and Felix Magath has been very supportive. There is a mixture of both local and international players — Roberts started at AFC Wimbledon, while Dembele joined from Paris St Germain.

Jennings speaks about creating a “winning mentality” and the number of players in each age group is kept to a minimum. He said: “We do not believe in over-recruitment. We only recruit players who we genuinely feel have a chance to succeeding. In our Under‑18s, we’ve got 15 outfield players. Some of our rivals have up to 39!”

Their working environment is also important, according to Jennings. “We laugh a lot,” he said. “Our academy is open for a minimum of 350 days a year, so you have to be able to foster companionship.”

Jennings helped establish Southampton’s celebrated academy, which has produced players like Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Lallana. He said: I am delighted to see Luke Shaw, Calum Chambers and James Ward-Prowse coming through now and showing you can create a dynasty at a club.

“There are a lot of similarities between the groups we had at Southampton and what we have at Fulham. Southampton had exceptional individuals and terrific people who set high standards for themselves and for each other. That is replicated here.

“I do not believe there is a better place to come to better yourself as a young player, than here at Fulham and a number of the squad who will be on show tonight have first-team potential. Despite the difficulties we face with our first team at the moment, there is a lot to be positive about at the club.”

Tickets for the match at Craven Cottage are priced £5 adults, £3 concessions. 7.45pm, live on ITV4

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