To finish the review of the season at youth and reserve level, we’ll hand out a few recognitions and ‘best ofs’.
Rather than simply nominate individuals, multiple players will get mentions, which is the right way to do things, particularly at this level where everyone is developing and striving to better themselves each and every week.
Youth Team: Todd Kane was voted the club’s Scholar of the Season and deservedly so, with eight goals at Under-18 level and three more for the Reserves…Jamal Blackman was a close second and would have been a shoo-in any other year after putting in a series of star showings, making stupendous saves look routine…Bobby Devyne scored eight goals and rounded out many aspects of his game, particularly his mental traits.
Ben Sampayo was a classy leader and captain at the back, displaying versatility and patience throughout a season he knew he would leave at the end of…schoolboys Adam Nditi and Lewis Baker led the charge for the next generation with 20+ appearances and became key players in league and cup football.
Reserves: Fabio Borini top scored with a goal ratio of better than a goal per game…Milan Lalkovic terrorised defences with endless running combined with goals and assists…Adam Phillip put together a season without injury and showed everyone what he can do with eight goals…Gokhan Tore’s ever maturing game developed more end product and saw a call-up to the full Turkish squad.
Nathaniel Chalobah played the entire campaign despite only turning 16 midway through it, and proved an FA Youth Cup hero with four goals…Carl Magnay returned from injury and was impressive in the final month of the season…Billy Clifford stepped up in two positions and was a key part of the run to the Youth Cup Semi Final before injury ended his season.
Loanees: Daniel Sturridge for Bolton…Fabio Borini at Swansea…Conor Clifford at Plymouth…Jack Cork for Burnley…Rhys Taylor for Crewe…Ben Gordon’s spell at Kilmarnock.
Goals: Todd Kane’s efforts against Crystal Palace for the Youth Team and Blackburn for the Reserves were merely the cherries on a cake full of those sort of strikes in 10-11…Danny Stenning’s top-corner blockbuster against Milton Keynes…Josh McEachran’s low finish after brilliant football between him and Billy Clifford against Barnsley in the Youth Cup…Fabio Borini’s reserve strikes against West Brom and Bolton, finding the back of the net from outside the box.
Thanks for spending another Youth and Reserve season with us here at TheChels, we hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage of it here and on Twitter as much as we have in covering it.
Football doesn’t stop though, and you can find the very latest news of all things at the club first, fastest and best on TheChels throughout the summer and heading into next season.