Hinckley AFC to relaunch U18 side

HINCKLEY AFC are re-launching its Under 18s side in conjunction with the Strachan Football Foundation.

The club and the Foundation will jointly operate the team, which will play under the Hinckley AFC banner.

First team coach Ryan Conneely, whose day-to-day work is with the Foundation, will manage the team while continuing with his current duties.

He said he saw an exciting opportunity to combine his two roles.

“I saw the opportunity so spoke to the Board. They thought it was exciting too, so we got to work and put the finer details together.

“It’s vital for every senior team to have a youth squad that can provide players. It can help the community too, having young local lads go and play for the first team.

“Hopefully the fans will support it and come and watch the youth team play. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The youth team will ensure that Hinckley have the pick of the stream of young talent that the academy produce. The likes of Jack Edwards, Drew Kear and Ben Whitehead all came through the Foundation.

The club’s chairman Bryan White, said: “I was surprised to learn that, in addition to the players that have joined us directly from the Strachan Foundation, nine of the current first team squad were students of the academy.

“The Strachan Foundation is a ‘not for profit’ organisation with a similar ethos to ourselves. They provide both academic training for their students, up to university entry level, combined with football coaching. They employ many coaches with vast professional playing and coaching experience and holding top UEFA qualifications. I believe this is another major step in the club’s development.”

The team will play home matches at Kirby Muxloe’s Ratby Lane ground and compete in the Midland Floodlit Youth League’s Eastern Division with matches to be played on Wednesday nights.