Why acadamies are important - Lawrence

Former Cardiff City manager Lennie Lawrence has been talking about the importance of acamadies. Lawrence was at Ninian Park when he recruited Paul Parry from Hereford United. Now he is at Bristol Rovers and has put his faith in Andy Williams. Both players came up through the ranks at Edgar Street.

"The academy is a valuable part of Cardiff City's development as a football club. Once the academy is in full flow, it can pay for itself many times over," Lawrence told Wales on Sunday.

"Cardiff have missed out on too many home-town talents of late. Craig Bellamy, the Welsh international Liverpool striker, is the prime example, as is Gareth Bale." (Bale has just moved from Southampton to Tottenham for £10m.)

"Previously the opportunities Cardiff offered weren’t up to scratch.

"The best kids in South Wales used to go straight to big Premiership clubs because the coaching and facilities were better.

"Now Cardiff have academy status they're not, so there's no need for the cream to look anywhere else but their home-town club.

"The youngsters know at Cardiff they'll be playing against the country's best players in the academy league, which is a great help for their development as a player.

"When I came to Cardiff at the end of 2001, the club didn't have an academy. But a club with the geographical size and potential of Cardiff, as it was so far away from any Premiership clubs, an academy was vital to any success for the simple reason that if you're in an academy you play other academies at Charlton, Spurs, Villa and Chelsea etc.

"Then our lads were playing Forest Green Rovers and Exeter, who weren’t quality enough opposition for a talented lad to fulfil his potential. Becoming an academy accredited by The FA is a massive rigmarole and a huge expense as it costs £0.5m per year to operate.

"The criteria are strict as you must have excellent facilities and the best qualified coaches.”

There is little doubt that Hereford United will never be able to equal Cardiff City and other big clubs with their youth set-ups, however the news that Forest Green Rovers, now managed by former Hereford United favourite Jimmy Harvey, are expanding their youth teams is an example to others clubs in the area.

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