Academy Update with Phil Stokes
Argyle Academy Manager Phil Stokes stressed his immense pride in the recent performances and results of our Under-18s as they marked another immensely successful Youth Alliance League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Newport County last week.
It was the culmination of another successful first stage league campaign, a result that saw them pipped to the title by just two points to Bournemouth, and comfortably qualify for the Merit League, a competition the young Greens won last season. It is an achievement Stokes suggested should not be underestimated.
“To take Bournemouth right down to the wire again, with really competitive games, was a good achievement,” he said.
“You have the top five teams from the South West and South East Conferences that merge into Merit League One. It’s the best five or six teams in each league competing in this division.
“We have to remember that when we played Bournemouth we only had four second-years playing. They had double the amount; we had more first-years playing which will help their development next season.”
On Tuesday night, Argyle’s first team secured a spot in the final of Papa Johns Trophy for the first time. Along the way, though, a huge amount of young players, including apprentices and first-year pros, played a key part in Argyle’s progression through the competition.
Stokes emphasised that, for players getting their first tastes of senior football while combining that with their Under-18s commitments, it was all about balance, working to ensure that success in the youth competitions was not to the overall detriment of the players’ development towards the senior side, and vice versa.
“We want to try and bridge that gap between the academy and first team,” he said, “to continue our pathway and the opportunities for our Academy players. We naturally want to win and be competitive, but the main thing is the players development.
“The players have had really good exposure in first-team training and matches. I don’t think any player has let themselves down when they’ve stepped up this year.”
It’s something the Home Park faithful have taken immense pride in this season, being treated to the regular presence of Academy graduates Mike Cooper and Adam Randell alongside more recent Academy prospects under Phil’s care. Two of Argyle’s five group-stage goals in the Papa Johns Trophy came from Academy players making their debuts, Oscar Halls and Will Jenkins Davies scoring decisive goals in the victory over Swindon Town, with Caleb Roberts following up with a strike in the knockout rounds.
Phil also spoke of his immense satisfaction with the wider performances of our youth programme, our various sides more than holding their own in recent fixtures against renowned Academies including Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Chelsea.
The Under-10 to Under-14 age groups also participated in an EFL festival last weekend with the Under-10s and Under-12s winning their respective finals.
"The younger players had a great week last week playing two Category One games and EFL festivals," Phil said. "They’re all performing really well and I was really impressed with the games that I managed to watch.
“The more we start to play these types of teams, the quality of Category One opposition, the more our players are starting to adapt and to really thrive in those environments. It’s been a really pleasing period.
“People are starting to take a little bit more notice of the work we’re doing in the Academy. Whether that’s into North Devon or Torbay, or down in Cornwall.
“I think it goes a bit further afield too, I think people now start to talk about playing a Plymouth Argyle team.
“People can start to see the way we’re going to play, the way we want to play right through the Academy and club.
“I have to give credit to the parents; I take my hat off. The amount of travelling they do for training, games and staying overnight - they are the most dedicated Academy parents across the country. They put in a really, really big commitment and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
“I also have to give a lot of credit to the staff; Darren Way, who’s doing a brilliant job with the Under-18s but all the support staff too. Rhys Wilmot, Tom Hunter, James Bradley; they’ve dealt with a lot of changes this season. The compliments we get when we go to different places is testament to the good work all the coaches and staff right the way through the age groups.”
Phil has recently finished a prestigious Elite Academy Management programme alongside people such as World Cup winner Per Mertesacker, who now heads up Arsenal’s academy.
“There was a mixture of people, ex-pros, sporting directors and other staff on the course,” said Phil. “There were also some academy managers that have been in it for 10, 20 years who are still learning as the role has evolved.
“I’m always looking to contact and speak to every academy manager across the country, to pick their brains on different things. Those conversations happen on a more regular basis now, it’s an ongoing programme and ongoing development. It’s been really beneficial, sharing their knowledge - the course has been really worthwhile.
“Education has a knock-on effect across the whole academy. We have CPDs (Continuing Professional Development initiatives). If it’s not on a course, it’s a tailored support programme internally through Neil Dewsnip. We make sure we deliver everything in line with our programme as well.
“I’m constantly learning, developing, upskilling myself to be the best academy manager I can be.”
