This question is for any of our regular supporters of the reserve and academy teams.

Which players are playing well at the moment and are their any that are looking like they could break through into our first team side and establish themselves as first teamers over the next few years. A big thing was made about this young Donaldson lad when we signed him last season and he seems to be getting some write ups in the local paper, how is he going and what sort of player is he?

What about the prop forward aswell, Crossliey, is he looking like he could step up to the mark should he be called upon, and lastly, how about those two brothers that we signed from under the noses of Leeds, the Tates, they looked like big athletic lads, what positions are they and are they good players?

All the players you mentioned are very good players with bright futures, still a bit young at this stage and they are all forwards. George Burgess has the size and game to make the step up in the coming years.
Haven't heard anything about Michael Tate all year, still only 16 though so plenty of time.

The Bulls really need some backs to come through and kick on as well, imo Ben Helliwell looks the most exciting back but i'd love to hear what other Academy watchers think.

Ade Raw had big wraps on him but i'm not sure if he has lived up to that yet.
Haven't seen enough of Joe Wardle.

Hopefully within 3 yrs the following will all be playing in first team either week in week on or at least on a regular basis.

Keiran hyde
ethan hawksworth
rob hawthorne
jason crookes
liam mackay
joe wardle
liam kay
steve crossley
jon horton
tom lilycrop
tom olbison
elliott whitehead
james donaldson

ben helliwell
george burgess
adam o brien
jode sherriffe

vinny finnigan
rick barr
andy tate
luke senior
matt bailey

sadly i reckon if someone offers 80k or so for crossley think he will be sold as he has gone off boil this yr..he needs a confidence booster..personally id drop kopczak/let him go out on loan and let crossley have a game or two..certainly cant do any worse koppy has the work ethic of a mule..knows his job so just plods thru.
colton wray
tom burgess
danny addy
chris clarke

Should put raw back on wing think he plays better there but seems like they trying to change him to centre.

Liam Mackay is a second rower playing centre at the moment and its Jake Senior.

Adrian Raw has always been a centre.

Didnt watch much ;ast season but saw him play wing more than centre so just presumed he always played there..looked good there and scored a few...

I thought it was jake senior as thats whats on lists but bulls have him down as luke and lexpress have him as luke on list but call him jake.

Generally speaking, how many academy players tend to "make it"? I know it must depend from year to year but roughly?

In his biography John Monie said that the best academy set ups can expect is 2 players to come through every year. Occasionally clubs get a glut come through but this is the exception rather than the rule.

When you look below at the players who broke through to get more than the odd game per season it looks about right:

This is off the top of my head so I'm sure I missed some.

98 - Deacon, Fielden.
99 - Peacock, L,Pryce.
00 -
01 - Langley, Sykes
02 - Parker, Bridge
03 - Reardon
04 -
05 -
06 - K,Pryce, Halley
07 - Kopczak, James, Cook, Burgess

Err......... 3.

Cant see him making it....Has great hands and work ethic lacks in pace..........ohhh and is a pussy ehhhh macka

On a serious note interesting to see nobody as mentioned Duane Straghuier as a potential to come through the ranks inthe next cople of seasons, and as far as i'm aware ooc at the endof the year!!! One to keep hold off

Brett Ferres, Richard Moore, Aaron Smith, Andy Smith? Depends on your definition of "an odd game".

Ryan Atkins was obviously produced by our system but didn't get first team time so do you include him?

Dave Halley didn't play at all for the first team in 2006.

98 - Deacon, Fielden.
99 - Peacock, L,Pryce.
00 -
01 - Langley, Sykes
02 - Parker, Bridge, Wilkinson, Moore
03 - Reardon
04 - Smith Aaron, Smith Andy
05 - Ferres
06 - K,Pryce
07 - Kopczak, James, Cook, Burgess, Halley

Looking at that lot it seems that if our academy set up continues in the same vein we will average about two regular first teamers per season coming through. Obviously the quality is very variable. 50% have been selected for England IIRC and some have either gone onto NLs or gone completely.

Unless we get a "one off" bumper crop through in the next few years I see no reason to think we'll get more than a couple per year. Exactly why the first team recruitment is so important.

thought burgess broke through earlier than 2007. didnt he come through into first team in 2006 and was pretty much established by 2007 season?

Yeah think he made about 9 or 10 first team appearances in 2006. It was 2007 that he made a real impact though.

Burgess played in 6 of the last 10 games of 2006.