Peter Farrell has been reflecting on the last 12 months in Bolton Wanderers U18s setup.

The scholars may have finished bottom of their Academy League, but their coach has been pleased with the way the season has panned out.

The club triumphed over Nottingham Forest, Doncaster Rovers and Hull City on their way through to the quarter final of the FA Youth Cup before falling valiantly against Liverpool in the quarter finals.

And a number of players have progressed to become regular members of the reserve team, a factor which has directly impacted selection for the U18s side.

Reflecting on the 2008/09 season, Farrell said: "As a team it hasn't been as successful as it has in the past, compared to last season when we finished second in the league. But when you think about how well we did in the Youth Cup, where we got further than we had in the last 40 years, then I would view it as a success.

"When you look at the results then people might think that we have played poorly, but we haven't. There were a lot of games when we played really well and got beat, and we will look at that by getting the right players in for the right positions.

"Players being selected for the reserves has meant that I have lost half of my players because I can't play them on Saturday mornings in the U18s team. I've had a weakened squad, but that's how it goes in football and at least we have had the chance to bring the U15s and U16s into our squad.

"I would be lying if I said that the league position didn't bother me, but it's not a major concern as youth coach. The important thing is to get players into the reserve team - that's what it is all about, the quicker they progress and move up then the better.

"It is definitely important for the second years, but even if you are a first year and you are good enough then they have to take that opportunity. However I am a big believer that first years need to settle down at the club because their bodies are changing and they need to work on the physical attributes.

"I keep saying to the lads that youth team football is an education. Players are here to learn the game. We do level two coaching qualifications with them as well and that is good because they are coaching themselves - they are starting to realise that if they understand the game then it will help them.

"But the most pleasing thing over the last year was how well we did in the FA Youth Cup. I keep going back to the game at Anfield, but I was disappointed we lost because I felt that we were the better side in the second half. Three silly goals in 11 minutes cost us the game and if we had got that third goal, then there was no doubt in my mind that we would have gone on and won."



While Farrell has been impressed with the overall development of his players, he believes that two individuals have stood out from the rest of the pack this season.

Young midfielder Aaron Mooy has caught the eye with a number of impressive performances in the middle of the park and Danny Ward has chipped in with some important goals in attack, most notably a stunning strike at Anfield in the quarter final of the FA Youth Cup.

"Aaron has just been involved in a competition for the Australia U20s over in Holland and he won player of the tournament. There is even talk of him going into the full international team, which would be a great achievement.

"He came over here when he was 14 years of age after being spotted in Australia. He got his education here at Bolton School, but he is a tremendous footballer. He still needs to work on his game, like the times when he hasn't got the ball, but ability-wise he oozes class. He stands out because of his technical ability and his awareness on the ball. It doesn't surprise me that he has been selected for his country.

"We paid a lot of money for Danny when he was 16 and we have had to give him time, but he has started to come through this year. He's a big, strong powerful lad and he has just started to fulfil his potential after a first year in which he had a few injuries. He has a great attitude and I think that given the opportunity then he could play in the Premier League.

"He came to the club as a left winger but I felt that he wasn't getting enough of the ball so we shifted him into midfield. He did very well but we were struggling to score goals because in the system we play, 4-3-3, we need that main striker. I took a gamble and stuck him up there and he was absolute quality and that was why I think we did so well in the youth cup.

"They will both be working with Alan Cork next year and in view of the manager, so I'm sure Alan will look after them and give them the opportunities. When they get their chances then they have to be consistent because that's the problem with players at that age."



The start of the new season will bring a new intake of scholars and Farrell is confident that the latest bunch of young players have real potential in football.

He said: "We are taking on nine kids this year and a lot of them we have known for a long time. Seven of them are home grown players, and without naming names, there are three or four of them that a got a great chance. Plus there are three or four who will be n the U16s that will push on and play for me this coming year.

"They have definitely got the ability and at the end of the day, if you are good enough then you are good enough - it's as simple as that."

The coaching staff and academy players have spent the last season working on a daily basis at the Eddie Davies Football Academy, a new multi million pound complex at Lostock.

The U18s coach explained that the state-of-the-art facilities have undoubtedly helped with matches and training.

He added: "It's been fantastic and the best thing that has happened. The pitches are great and we can train there every day, meaning that we don't have to go down to the JJB centres and the local parks like we did four or five years ago.

"When we try to sign players, the academy is a great selling point. Players come to us and realise what a friendly club we are and say that they are going to sign for us, but suddenly they go to Manchester United or Blackburn and they look at their facilities and it hits them how good they are. But that is now changing and we are going down the right path."