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David Lee believes the hard work at the Wanderers academy is finally bearing fruit.
The emergence of former youth team-mates Zach Clough and Tom Walker last season, along with the impressive displays of Josh Vela have been a huge boost to everyone at the Eddie Davies Academy.
With several other graduates like Oscar Threlkeld and Andy Kellett also involved at senior level last season, Lee believes it is a pat on the back for all the coaches at the Lostock base working under Jimmy Phillips’ guidance.
But he stresses there will be no let up in their efforts to keep the conveyor belt churning out talent for the first team.
Lee told The Bolton News: “Every year the aim of everyone at the academy and up through the Under-18s and U21s is to produce first-team footballers for Bolton Wanderers. It doesn’t happen overnight but this year we have seen the fruits of the labour with the likes of Josh, Zach and Tom all establishing themselves in the senior side.
“It has been a long process that started when Jimmy took over at the academy five or six years ago.
“But it doesn’t stop because a few have progressed to senior level – the aim is to keep that conveyor belt going and to keep producing and developing young players. Our drive now is to find that next batch.
“It helps having a manager of the stature of Neil Lennon who is prepared to promote younger players to the senior squad.
“He attends a lot of U21s matches and we regularly speak with both him and development squad coach Iain Brunskill.”
Lee is naturally proud to see so many of his graduates in and around the first team. And he hopes that continues next season, despite seeing 13 young players recently released.
Lee added: “When you look at the big FA Cup replay we had against Liverpool in February, we had two former academy players start in Josh Vela and Zach Clough and another three on the bench in Tom Walker, Oscar Threlkeld and George Iliev.
“When you think that was against Liverpool in a big cup game live on television, it shows the faith the manager has.
“Not many squads around this league have as many youth products playing regularly in the first team.
“We have a very good ratio and long may it continue.”
There are others who have enjoyed spells out on loan – none more so than young left-sider Andy Kellett who was voted Plymouth Argyle’s young player of the year and then won the FA U21 Premier League title after his shock loan switch to Manchester United in the second half of the campaign.
Lee added: “What a move it was for Andy to go to Manchester United. He will have gained so much from that.
“I am not sure what his situation will be now but the last time I spoke to him he had been training with the first team.
“When you think of the talent they have at United, what a great experience that will have been and can only help Andy become a better player.”
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The emergence of former youth team-mates Zach Clough and Tom Walker last season, along with the impressive displays of Josh Vela have been a huge boost to everyone at the Eddie Davies Academy.
With several other graduates like Oscar Threlkeld and Andy Kellett also involved at senior level last season, Lee believes it is a pat on the back for all the coaches at the Lostock base working under Jimmy Phillips’ guidance.
But he stresses there will be no let up in their efforts to keep the conveyor belt churning out talent for the first team.
Lee told The Bolton News: “Every year the aim of everyone at the academy and up through the Under-18s and U21s is to produce first-team footballers for Bolton Wanderers. It doesn’t happen overnight but this year we have seen the fruits of the labour with the likes of Josh, Zach and Tom all establishing themselves in the senior side.
“It has been a long process that started when Jimmy took over at the academy five or six years ago.
“But it doesn’t stop because a few have progressed to senior level – the aim is to keep that conveyor belt going and to keep producing and developing young players. Our drive now is to find that next batch.
“It helps having a manager of the stature of Neil Lennon who is prepared to promote younger players to the senior squad.
“He attends a lot of U21s matches and we regularly speak with both him and development squad coach Iain Brunskill.”
Lee is naturally proud to see so many of his graduates in and around the first team. And he hopes that continues next season, despite seeing 13 young players recently released.
Lee added: “When you look at the big FA Cup replay we had against Liverpool in February, we had two former academy players start in Josh Vela and Zach Clough and another three on the bench in Tom Walker, Oscar Threlkeld and George Iliev.
“When you think that was against Liverpool in a big cup game live on television, it shows the faith the manager has.
“Not many squads around this league have as many youth products playing regularly in the first team.
“We have a very good ratio and long may it continue.”
There are others who have enjoyed spells out on loan – none more so than young left-sider Andy Kellett who was voted Plymouth Argyle’s young player of the year and then won the FA U21 Premier League title after his shock loan switch to Manchester United in the second half of the campaign.
Lee added: “What a move it was for Andy to go to Manchester United. He will have gained so much from that.
“I am not sure what his situation will be now but the last time I spoke to him he had been training with the first team.
“When you think of the talent they have at United, what a great experience that will have been and can only help Andy become a better player.”
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