Hastings’ battle reaping reward
SKELMERSDALE United academy manager Graham Hastings has praised the ‘unbelievable achievement’ made by his side in their first season together.
Hastings was charged with putting together a new youth team last summer after seven years at Bury.
Skelmersdale eventually played their first match in an FA Youth Cup defeat but impressed during their maiden NPLFA campaign, sitting third when the season was eventually brought to a close due to coronavirus.
Hastings also had two players promoted to the senior fold during the course of the term, with Ged Traynor making his debut under Paul McNally.
“The whole squad deserve a massive well done and a pat on the back for what they have achieved this season,” Hastings said. “The work they put in within training sessions and the way they took information on board then onto the pitch was fantastic. This was also noticed by [McNally] who invited many of the lads to join first-team training sessions throughout the season and included them in a few friendlies.
“McNally also signed two of the lads from the academy – Ged Traynor and Jordan Dainty – on first-team forms. He later gave Ged his debut, making him the youngest player to play for Skelmersdale in a first-team competitive game to the best of my knowledge.”
Hastings added: “At the time of the league being postponed we were third with three games left to play. If we had won those games, which I believe we would we could have finished on level points with the second-placed team which more than likely would have been Widnes. That is an unbelievable achievement for the first year the lads have been together.
“Personally, I’d like to thank each and every one of the squad for the way they have worked for me throughout this season, and I am proud to be their coach.”