Shawbury planning for a bright future

The under-18s will play in the Western Division of the Midland Floodlit Youth League and are currently set to play at the SBS Stadium in Ludlow. The new team will be managed by Ronnie Box, who has worked in the Shrewsbury youth set-up.

First-team boss Dave Richards, who is busy attempting to beef his senior ranks for life back in the West Midlands Premier Division after a demanding early summer of player departures, is thrilled by the prospect.

He said: “The big positive for us is that it’s the first time we’re entering a team in the under-18s Midland Floodlit League.

“We’re looking forward to it, the numbers in training have been really good. There has been loads of interest.

“I said to them before Saturday’s game (against Worcester) if you’re good enough you’re old enough, look at the young lad at the World Cup (Kylian Mbappe).

“We want to give young players a chance.”

The club hope the under-18s side will act as the crucial link between their under-16 age group and the first team. Around 325 youngsters are signed on at Shawbury United from under-fives upwards.

The early signs are promising as several Shawbury starlets showed what they are capable of in Shawbury United’s first pre-season friendly of the summer.

Richards fielded a starting XI consisting of eight under-18s stars against a Worcester City XI.

The young squad battled to a 2-2 against their higher-ranked opponents. Archie Pugh and Armando Wood, aged 16 and 17, struck the goals.

Richards will be hoping the new development side quickly fast-tracks youngsters into senior football as he goes about rebuilding his senior squad, who were relegated from the Midland Premier Division on the final day of last term.

Matthew Ballard has moved on to higher-ranked Market Drayton Town, with Ian Harvard and Keanu Cooper heading to Westfields. Adam Groom has joined Church Stretton while Aaron Lloyd has also checked out.

“These players have been great servants,” added Richards. “We’ve lost quite a few lads to more money but that’s something we’ve learned to accept

“It’s something we’re proud of in that every player here comes to play for nothing and goes on to play at a higher level and get paid to play the game.”

Shawbury’s first team play AFC Telford in the Huddersfield Cup at Ludlow tomorrow (8pm) while Bromsgrove Sporting are the visitors on Saturday (12pm).

They face Rock Rovers at Harper Adams University on July 25 (7pm) with another friendly to be arranged on July 28.