Fulham’s Academy enjoyed a hugely positive three days last week. Following the under 18s progression in the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday, the under 14s won the Premier League U14 National Indoor Tournament on the Friday.
The competition saw Fulham finish top of their group ahead of Manchester City to set up a final showdown with Chelsea, a match which saw the Whites triumph 4-2. The team needed to come from behind to win the game and did so in a manner which thrilled Academy Development Manager Geoff Noonan.
“The final was a crazy game really,” Geoff told fulhamfc.com. “We started poorly and in the first five or six minutes it really was one way traffic with Chelsea having lots of chances and we subsequently went one-nil down.
“But the boys showed great spirit, great attitude, determination and commitment. We got a goal back midway through the first half and really went on from there and you could see the confidence rising as the game progressed. It was nice to beat our west London rivals.”
The team’s reward for their victory is a trip to Spain to take part in a competition hosted by Barcelona at their famed youth academy.
“It’s a good opportunity and experience to see how the best academy in the world prepares players,” explained Geoff. “It will be good to see how they train players and how they actually play as well at the under 14 age group.
“It’s been a great week in terms of player development and player progression; the results are part of the process but not the be all and end all. It’s about how we play the game, it’s about what players do on the ball and off the ball, as well as their attitude and their focus.
“I think that’s shown in both situations last week and it’s really pleasing that the scholars now get to play back at Craven Cottage [in the FA Youth Cup Quarter Final] and the under 14s get to play in Spain.”