With 2022 signalling the return to Plainmoor of Head of Youth Robbie Herrera, Robbie has taken some time out to assess the progress made, before looking ahead to another exciting year in the Torquay United youth department.
“It’s been good, I’ve enjoyed being back at the Club and working with some familiar faces,” said Herrera, who began by providing an update on the youngest age-groups.
“The younger groups have done well. We’ve got the Under 10s, and we’re starting with an Under 9 group at the start of the year, which is great. It’s about player development for those groups and those players, when they’re still learning.
“They’ve got a lot to get through in the young groups, the Under 10s and under 9s – who are 7-a-side at the moment. The pitch is a little smaller for them, obviously, but at the same time it’s a big area for them to try and utilise and understand the game, but things are progressing quite nicely.”
Robbie also placed on record his appreciation for his team of youth coaches, who have once again gone the extra mile to provide United’s youngsters with the best possible environment in which to develop.
“The coaches have been fantastic to be honest with you. It takes a lot of commitment from them and they’ve been great.
“They come in a seek a little bit of advice for sessions, for games and with formations etc, and we’re trying to pass on the knowledge to them, to improve themselves as well.”
Looking ahead to 2023, Torquay’s Head of Youth is clear where his main hopes and aims lie.
“I’m hoping we can get two or three of the Under-18s through as pros, first and foremost, that would be fantastic. We’ve got a few there that are possibles, and then it’s to try and up the standard and the quality that we’ve got from 16 downwards.
“Obviously results when we get to the 14s, 15s, and 16s start to become important, but more than that, it’s about the player development. It’s tough because football is a tough industry. Not all the players are going to make it, and that’s well-known and is well-documented.
“We’re looking at player development to get them through, to firstly get them through to our Under-18 groups, and then, more importantly, get them through to pros with the first team.”