ACADEMY: Powering The Future With ‘The Wealdstone Way’

WITH well over 120 students enrolled across three locations, Wealdstone FC’s academy is at an exciting point in its development – explains Elliot Minto.

A figure familiar to those who follow the first-team, Minto’s dual role at the club now spans an Analyst & Coach role under Gary Waddock as well as serving as Academy Technical Manager within the structure headed up by Dale Welch (Head of Academy).

Indeed, those who’ve watched National League Cup action so far this campaign will have caught a glimpse at some of the emerging talent that’s now starting to cement a pathway between the youth set-up and the senior men’s squad.

“It’s been an exciting few months since I started this new role,” says Minto, whose work includes leading on the academy’s coaching syllabus to ensure ‘The Wealdstone Way’ – a coaching blueprint to run from top to bottom throughout the whole club – is being delivered to scholars in a consistent manner at Brunel University, Harrow College and Harefield Academy.

The three sites provide different options for young players, aged between 16 and 23, to achieve both on and off the field with a wide range of academic and vocational courses alongside playing and learning the game.

Explains Minto: “Educational choices like A Levels and BTEC options, depending at which of our locations you choose to study, means Wealdstone is helping to provide a platform to produce capable young people, because we know not everyone’s going to go on to have a career in football.

“What’s exciting for our aspiring young players is that all of our coaching plans follow the first-team’s lead, and have been agreed with Gary Waddock to ensure those key messages are being delivered consistently across everyone who represents the club in a blue shirt.”

Stones’ Academy teams draw footballing talent from across Brunel, Harrow and Harefield, coming together in competitive action within both Under-23 and Under-19 league structures. In addition, the prestigious FA Youth Cup will be contested at Under-18 level; a journey which starts this Wednesday, September 30, with a Second Qualifying Round tie away to Hayes & Yeading United.

“We compete at regional level across both our Under-23 and Under-19 age groups,” explains Minto.

“And, for the second season now, we’re also competing at a national level as part of the National League U19 Alliance.”

In the 14-team NLFA South Division, Wealdstone are pitched in against some far more established academy set-ups, something Minto recognises.

“This is the top league a youth team can play in as part of a non-categorised (under the EPPP structure) academy. Playing in a nationally-branded league is a great challenge for our young talent, with the level of competition really helping to drive individual player development and team awareness.”

Patience is the key for now, asserts Minto, acknowledging it’ll still take some while yet before the regular passage from academy scholar to senior squad member is realised.

“Yes there have been lads involved in the first-team squad early this season, but those experiences have come almost exclusively against similarly young players at other clubs.

“In starting to lay serious foundations for that pathway between academy and senior squads, we’ve all got to recognise it’s going to take some time and dedication to ensure we’re creating a version of that route which is right for this club.

“‘The Wealdstone Way’, we believe, is going to help us achieve that, and we’re all excited about what the future holds in store.”

We’ll be featuring academy scholars’ journeys, from across the club’s three locations, in the weeks ahead, as well as going into some more detail about what new joiners might expect to experience as part of Wealdstone’s growing plans.

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Youngsters can join Wealdstone’s Academy set-up at any age between 16 and 23. There’s no set entry point, with educational & vocational qualifications even able to be shaped around those joining after the traditional academic year has begun.

“Enrolment continues throughout the academic year. It would mean a little catch-up work on studying, but we’re only just underway this year, “notes Minto.

“In fact, we’re already putting together next season’s trials, so if someone’s reading this thinking about 2027, then they’ll be able to register an interest in the near future.

FOLLOW STONES’ ACADEMY FIXTURES

Click HERE to see fixtures within the National League U19 Alliance NLFA South schedule.

Click HERE to see fixtures within the National League U19 Alliance Regional Division C schedule.

Click HERE to see fixtures within the National Football Youth League U23 South Division schedule.