Help for our Non-League Brothers

Sheffield United U16 1 v Birmingham City U16 2

At Hallam FC

Monday 1 December 2014

Twitter @ball_sup

Precious little info about this one. It's some sort of initiative lead by SUFC. Maybe two objectives. To get some competitive matches at U16 level & to continue to forge links with local lower pyramid teams.

I was very critical of United pulling out (at short notice) from a number of preseason games against non-league teams.

Keeping sweet with our smaller brothers is far better than all the usual charitable & foundation nonsense. It's football helping football. It's a very direct way of building participation & grassroots development.

1. Take teams (XIs, U18s, etc) to play local non-league sides.

2. Organise age group games at local non-league grounds. (Like this one v Birmingham City).

3. Train occasionally at & with non-league teams in sessions open to the public.

4. Send members of the 1st Team to public appearances at local non-league games.

5. Send our younger players out on short term development loans to non-league teams. The Blades are very good at this. If I've read social media correctly, Jake Wright to Hallam is the latest.

6. But, for pities sake, PUBLICISE. Tonight's match v Birmingham was almost a secret.

Anyway.  Enjoyable game. Both sets of players up for it. Without being over aggressive.

My suspicion is it's a two legged affair. With the 2nd leg still to come.