The following reserve fixtures in the Final Third Development League will be played at Meadow Lane this month:

12th v Doncaster Rovers (2pm)

19th v Scunthorpe United (2pm)

26th v Hartlepool United (2pm)

Prices are £3 Adults, £1 concessions.  I have fond memories of attending reserve games in the old North Midlands League way back in the 70s and seeing players like Pedro and Benji graduate to the first team, so I'll try and give these a go.

It gains support for them and families who cant afford regular games a chance to see them.

When I lived in Nottingham, I attended quite a few but what ever happened to doing it? It stopped long before the trust and etc.

My Grandfather used to take me to cheap games but I don't recall if it was youth or reserve team games.

I have said for years we should do it, get them supported and feeling what it is like to play proper football. It takes the pressure off you, when I played I lost my confidence when I didn't know what to expect - I recall being thrown into a team with seniors and I was only in year 6.

It makes such a huge difference and I am sure it serves other purposes that the club will find useful.

Extra attraction to the club shop, one of the plus sides!

It's a shame these are on Tuesday's its not a good day for me to attend as we have Grandchildren to fetch from school on that day.

What sort of crowds do they attract? I imagine fairly low but are we speaking similar to the ladies games?

I may look into attending one.

Growing up in the "saarth"....I regularly attended Reserve games at the old Elm Park, Tilehurst, Reading which was only just across the park from my school, Stoneham Grammar.

We got in for ridiculously cheap money (cannot remember the prices but I know we had entrance, bag of chips and a program.......and still got change from a 10 bob note!!)

Reserve teams always seemed to field a decent mix of first-teamers recovering from "knocks" (remember, in those days a "fair tackle" was anything that didn't put the ball-carrier in traction or hoist him into row z!), up-and-coming talent and guys on loan looking for a contract......exciting games, good quality football and pretty good crowds.

One of those "up-and-coming" type of players I watched in the Reading Reserves sadly passed away 2 days ago.....Percy Freeman was born in Newark and signed for WBA where he struggled to oust Jeff Astle, before Graham Taylor took him to Lincoln City. Reading signed him in the early 70s.......he was a no-nonsense centre-forward who struggled to hold his first-team place and we often found him in the reserves.

He "gave up" on football and became a scaffolder (footballers didn't make much money anyway in those days!!)

He made a brief return to Reading....before Graham Taylor signed him for a 2nd spell at Lincoln where he scored another 23 times in 35 games......what an incredible goal-scoring rate!

He went on to manage a few non-league teams including Boston.

RIP Percy.....great memories

i will keep an eye out, i cannot say i will attend. i do think its important they get our backing!

2 hours ago, eighteensixtytwo said:

What sort of crowds do they attract? I imagine fairly low but are we speaking similar to the ladies games?

I may look into attending one.

The sort of crowd that attends remains to be seen, as these are the first reserve games played at the Lane in years.  I would guess 400 - 500 at best, but it's a good chance to bag a prime seat in the main stand at a bargain price.  Now I'm at the 'old fart' (senior) stage it will only cost me a quid so I'm planning to be there on Tuesday.  If I make it, I will no doubt bore everyone with one of my incisive match reports later in the day!

For anyone interested, the latest fixtures, results and table for league and cup can be found here.

 

Edit:  Don't think the link works - click on this instead:

http://www.football-league.co.uk/documents/final-third-development-league-newsletter-19-08.01.16549-2890718.pdf

3 hours ago, Elite_pie said:

The sort of crowd that attends remains to be seen, as these are the first reserve games played at the Lane in years.  I would guess 400 - 500 at best, but it's a good chance to bag a prime seat in the main stand at a bargain price.  Now I'm at the 'old fart' (senior) stage it will only cost me a quid so I'm planning to be there on Tuesday.  If I make it, I will no doubt bore everyone with one of my incisive match reports later in the day!

Match report would be good.

I was really interested in attending at least one of these games but being a younger pie I still have commitments in terms of college so I'm unable to attend

A little reminder for anyone with nothing to do this afternoon....

Let us know how they do etc Elite, would be good to read up on the game.

Unfortunately, I can't make it tonight.

A very comfortable 4-0 win, with goals from De Silva, Murray, Spencer and Snijders.  A fairly strong team: Loach, Wildin, Sharpe, Sarpong (Rutty-Smith 78), Amevor (Aghatise 59), McKenzie, De Silva, Valencic, Spencer (Gibson 59), Murray (Bishop 46), Snijders.  We played well, definite echoes of the Moniz style of getting the ball to the wide men and firing crosses into the box.  Donny had very few chances, we looked strong at the back for a change, and the 4-4-2 formation worked effectively.  Some well taken goals, Murray looked sharp and Spencer led the line well but was let down by his final ball too often.  Good to see the youngsters given a chance in the second half, though it did lead to a comedy moment - Notts had just made their fourth sub (Rutty-Smith) when the ref and lino consulted and decided he had to go off as only three subs were allowed.  Someone was sent scurrying to the offices and came back 5 minutes later with the rule book, showed it to the officials and the sub was then allowed - the "You don't know what you're doing" chant would have been fully justified!  Apparently Fullarton was in the stand but I didn't see him, Dryden was is charge on the touchline.  I'd guess there were only around the 250 mark in attendance, but it's worth making the effort if you've got either of the next Tuesday afternoons free.

sounds like they did well for a run out, was doncaster filled with youngsters?

6 minutes ago, liampie said:

sounds like they did well for a run out, was doncaster filled with youngsters?

That's what I don't know.  I only recognised Danny N'Guessen up front for them, but I don't know much about their squad.

A little reminder to anyone with a spare afternoon tomorrow that we play Scunny at Meadow Lane at 2pm.

See the stars of the future(!!) for £3 adults and £1 concessions.

Awaiting your account of the game @Elite_pie.

Notts 0-0 Scunny.  It was a younger and less experienced Notts side: Loach, Wildin, Sharpe, Richards, Amevor, McKenzie, Da Silva, McMillan, Spencer, Bishop, Rutty -Smith (Gibson).  Unused subs - Searson-Smith, Layton, Brownhill, Aghatise.  Two evenly matched sides who both struggled to create clear chances, a draw was a fair result.  Loach made a couple of good saves, while Amevor and Sharpe looked solid at the back.  The forwards had a tough time against two big strong centre backs.  Probably a few more in attendance than last week, we even had a drummer who soon gave up after a few early beats!    

Agree with your view Elite on the game. What one could gain from it was the "step up" needed from the youngsters. Rutty Smith lacked the sharpness needed and I agreed with his substitution. McMillan had some nice passes, but his dead ball delivery was poor and unless he muscles up so to speak, he will become an Andy Williams type player of days gone by. I have to put a word in for the Scunthorpe #5, if we are looking for a no nonsense centre half, he could easily fit the bill. Spencer didnt get much change from him today

Ratings:

Loach 8 Didnt really have a lot to do but when called upon , made some good saves. Looks assured.

Richards 5 Satisfactory

McKenzie 5 May still be a chance for him. Seems to have improved a lot after his Wrexham loan spell

Amevor 6 Comfortable

Sharpe 5 Put in some good crosses and was O K defensively

Wildin 6 This player does have a good chance of making it

McMillan 5 Too lightweight but with some touches.

De Silva 7 Faded second half but could have scored near the end. Looked our most threatening player

Rutty Smith 4 Tendency to dwell on the ball too long

Bishop 4 apart from good attempt on 80 minutes, still no signs to me that he is ever going to make it

Spencer 6 well marked, nice lay offs but rarely got opportunity to get into goal scoring positions 

 

 

 

 

 

41 minutes ago, Piethagoram said:

I have to put a word in for the Scunthorpe #5, if we are looking for a no nonsense centre half, he could easily fit the bill. Spencer didnt get much change from him today.

I have to admit he caught my eye as well.  Spencer must be one of the most difficult players to mark at this level, but he managed to keep him fairly quiet.  A quick Google search shows his name to be Charlie Goode, a 20 year old released by Fulham aged 15 and made his way to Scunny through non-league.  He has appeared for the first team there 9 times, so he is clearly no novice.  That's the difficulty of these games, we don't really know the strength of the opposition, but Scunny were far more competitive than Doncaster last week.

I too checked Wiki Elite..he came from Hendon and seemingly on this one appearance has the attributes of making a good centre half. Adelekun #7 showed good skill at the end to test Loach and their #8, Baio looked skillful, on trial from the Liverpool academy. Can I apply to be a scout

 

A question I would like to ask if whether the club does any post match analysis of the opposition we have just played? Surely this would help build a more effective database when we are looking for players.

Just listened to Dryden on Magpie Player. Reserve team games will be used for blooding the youngsters. As a consequence, one can assume it looks very much the case that certain of the elder pros ( like the continental ones) will be frozen out.

thanks for posting your thoughts @Elite_pie and @Piethagoram.