Originally Posted by
Timmy58
It never looked odds on for us to get relegated. Yes, we found ourselves nearer the trapdoor than we would have liked but frankly, no one looked certainties for relegation from League 2 until about the middle of April by which time we were moving up the league.
And for the record it is, in the main, our Academy players that have shown the way. When Ray (an Academy product) replaced Raynes (an "experienced" player) in our defence we began to achieve some very good results. Ainley, Ng and Pickering have had outstanding seasons and look potential "good money" sales in the not too distant future along with Kirk and Jones. But if course, attending matches would tell you that! So for me, long live the Academy because it is keeping us afloat. Also, I am no expert, but I believe there has been a lad from Stokes Academy who has made the first team. Their Academy has not been established that long and it takes time for players to come through. It certainly doesn't happen overnight.