Academy Preview | Stevenage (A)

Argyle Under-18s get their Merit League campaign under way on Saturday, as they travel to Stevenage (1pm).

The Merit League sees the leading teams in different regions of the Youth Alliance League come together for a further competition, and it is a league that Argyle topped last season.

That came after finishing second to Bournemouth in the initial Youth Alliance table and, curiously enough, the exact same outcome emerged this season.

Stevenage came third in the South East region, behind Luton Town and AFC Wimbledon.

“It was a disappointing end to the Youth Alliance League going to Bournemouth and not getting the point that we required,” said Under-18s assistant manager James Bradley. “It's been tough for the lads to bounce back from that over the last couple of weeks, but we go into the Merit League, a fresh challenge, which we're all looking forward to.

“Last year, we managed to bounce into the Merit League really brightly and had a fast start.

“I think we won seven out of the nine games in the Merit League last year, and managed to win it by a point. It’s going to be a really tough set of games coming up, with a lot of traveling involved, but we're really looking forward to the challenge and we're going to embrace it.”

Manager Darren Way frequently stresses the importance of the under-18s programme preparing the next generation of Pilgrims not just for the prospect of senior football on the field, but the general nature of the lifestyle.

The Argyle first team is plenty used to spending time on the road, and while they will head to Peterborough United this Saturday, their junior counterparts will head out on the 500-mile or so round trip to Stevenage, a little further south on the A1, all done in a day.

“It's a relentless program,” said Bradley. “It really is. It's relentless for the players; the traveling really takes out of them.

“Darren and I will really focus on the tactical elements of the game for Saturday, and we'll make sure the players are physically ready to go. On Saturday morning, we'll leave at 6am, give the lads plenty of time to get up there and be as well prepared as we possibly can.

“We’ll get them off the bus and we'll go straight into the game, which we we're really excited for. It'll be a good occasion.

“We went there last year, and narrowly won. It's a tough place to go. They'll be big, they'll be physical. It's a challenge that we don't usually face from outside the region, so it is a great challenge for the boys. we're looking forward to it.”

The Argyle first team won their Papa Johns Trophy semi-final tie against Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night at Home Park, to secure a trip to Wembley in the final of the competition. While the side Steven Schumacher put out in the semi was an experienced one, throughout the campaign the boss has used it as an opportunity to give experience to Academy players and young pros, with several making senior debuts and scoring their first professional goals.

“They've played a huge part,” said Bradley. “It's been an unbelievable experience for the players, watching them perform on the main pitch, and then coming back to our environment with the Under-18s eighteens and using their experiences back within the Youth Alliance League. It has been invaluable for them.

“As an academy, we are really proud of the players. The way that they've performed and the way that they've helped the club get to this momentous moment is a really proud moment for everyone.

“As coaches, there's nothing better than sitting up in the stand and watching one of the young lads that you've been working with for a few years enter the main stage and not just hold their own, but perform really well. It's been a great experience for everyone involved in the Academy and now hopefully we can top it off with a win at Wembley.”