THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT AT TON
MORTON director of youth Derek Anderson has praised the club’s under-16 side after they were crowned league champions following a 5-0 thrashing over Ayr United.
The Ton colts secured the title in style with a fifth clean sheet in a row and with two games to spare.
Goals from Lennon Duffy, Jamie White and a hat-trick from Cammy Keays saw the youth side cruise to the title at Notre Dame High School in Greenock.
Anderson says the youngsters are reaping the rewards of the work they have put in since joining the club at 10 years of age and he believes they have the potential to become first team stars of the future.
He told the Tele: “It is brilliant to see there is a good line of players coming through in the pathway from the academy, so we are delighted.
“The under-16s are a really good group, they always have been, since we got them in at under11s.
“They work ever so hard and are a pleasure to work with.
“I am absolutely delighted that they have been rewarded for the hard work that they have put in.”
On the players becoming professional, Anderson said: “If they keep going the way they are, then I don’t see any problem there.
“You would definitely get some of the boys turning pro. We played a few of the elite teams and beat Celtic 4-0.
“Hamilton currently sit top of the elite table, and we beat them 2-1 at home as well. To be honest the under-16s could play in that league no problem, but we are where we are and we just get on with it.”
The former Ton and Kilmarnock defender has hailed the impact of under-16s coaches Tony Gervais, David Aitken and Pearce McEnroe and believes they are helping the young players to fulfil their potential.
Anderson said: “It is a great group. Tony has got a wealth of experience and he has coached at all different levels in different countries.
“I was quite lucky to get him. Pearce is a lad who is learning off David and Tony.
“There is great energy with the three of them.
“They all get on well, and it is easy when you have a good team.
“They have been great with the boys, really pushed them, and they want to educate them all the time. They have been absolutely fantastic with them.”
Anderson says the pathway is there for the young players to reach Morton’s first team, with three players already making the step-up to under-18s level.
He added: “Sam Murdoch plays in the 18s just now.
“He has been starting games for quite some time.
“We chucked him into the development squad last year up at Alloa and he plays with both teams.
“He is still young, but this will do his development the world of good, and we have added another two, Oliver Fisher and Matthew Davidson.
“We are just about to add another two on top of that into the mix for a friendly against Falkirk tonight to have a look at them as well.
“You can’t stop these boys, there is no ceiling at Morton academy, it doesn’t matter what age you are, if you are good enough you will go and play.”