Wakehurst, Northend United Youth embark on new partnership

Wakehurst FC, who play in the third highest division in Northern Ireland - Belfast Telegraph Championship Two - have linked up with Northend United Youth FC

The partnership, which initially came about through informal discussions between Wakehurst’s Willie Allen and Northend founder John Devlin, will ensure a steady flow of talent for Wakehurst of players who are good enough to play at Irish League level, as well as providing an avenue for teenagers to continue playing football once Northend’s age group-based activities finish after under-16 level.

In the first instance, the partnership will see the creation of an under-17 team which will compete in the Elite National League next season under the name and colours of Wakehurst.

Further down the line, it will see the progression of players from that team into Wakehurst’s reserve teams - they currently have affiliated sides competing in the Ballymena Saturday Morning League and Ballymena & Provincial Junior League - with the cream then stepping up to first team level.

“If Wakehurst is to progress then we need an infrastructure in place and we need access to players,” explained Wakehurst manager Ian Gregg.

“Northend United Youth is well-known in footballing circles in Ballymena and they fit our model well - they are enthusiastic football people and they are ambitious like ourselves.

“Northend United knows more about producing young talent than we do and they already teach their players good habits which will be to our benefit in the future.

“Young players should realise that Wakehurst doesn’t have to be a dead end and that they can use Wakehurst as a stepping stone

Wakehurst chairman Billy Erwin added: “It’s good for the town of Ballymena and also for young players to know that they have the opportunity to go on to progress at Irish League level.”

Northend, which was initially established as a one-team cross-community project in 2003 has now mushroomed into a successful youth set-up, boasting eight teams from ages 8-16, along with an acclaimed Football Development Centre for 4-9-year-olds.

Northend United Youth chairman Johnny Sayers explains: “The club has gone from strength to strength because we have good people in place, people who, over the years have given many, many hours of their time to make Northend United Youth the club that it is today.

“Spare time and indeed in some cases work time has been sacrificed by our coaching staff to be with their respective teams on match days and on the training ground. Long may this commitment continue as we strive to take the club forward to bigger and better things.

“Our partnership with Wakehurst FC is something that we will embrace and we relish the challenge to develop our youth to the standard required to don the famous black and white jersey,” added Johnny.

The partnership will come to fruition for the first time when the new Wakehurst under-17 team - which will be coached by Glen Spiers - will play in the Foyle Cup tournament in the summer.