For those who watch the academy sides regularly...

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Were you able to/watching them back in the day, when Billy was a youngster?

If so, do you remember your opinion of him back then? Was he a recognised goalscorer even back then? Was he the best of his crop and always destined for a good career, or has his journey really come some way from early impressions? I know he was sold initially by United, but was he highly thought of within the club at the time?

 

[Dublinblade]

Billy was thought highly of coming up through the ranks, was a it of a surprise to me at least when we sold him the first time, then again many are thought of highly in the academy and come to nothing Jonathan Forte, Jacob Mellis, Louis Reed, De Girolamo (spelling) etc being a good prospect and making it too very very different things.

 

[8lade]

Jacob Mellis made it however and I don't think many will argue over this one but he had the legendary, 'bad attitude' that takes some players down.

 

[Dublinblade]

Jacob Mellis made it however and I don't think many will argue over this one but he had the legendary, 'bad attitude' that takes some players down.

how do you figure he made it ? He got signed by Chelsea and made good money but never played above championship level spend most of his career in league 1 and 2. Infact a journeyman like Akenfenwa will end up playing almost as many games at championship level as Melis managed in his career !

 

[8lade]

Define 'made it', I'd say making a living as a professional footballer (also see Reed and Whiteman).
Over to you...

 

[Carlton Blade]

how do you figure he made it ? He got signed by Chelsea and made good money but never played above championship level spend most of his career in league 1 and 2. Infact a journeyman like Akenfenwa will end up playing almost as many games at championship level as Melis managed in his career !

Surely anyone who makes a career as a pro has made it?

 

[Digs blade]

I watched Sharp most home games at that time. We had a good side and it was pretty much guaranteed he would be amongst the goals most games .

He was similar style back then where he didn’t have any amazing stand out qualities but was a clinical finisher.

Forte was in the same side and used to create a lot of chances for him. Ian Ross was also decent in that age group

 

[Punk Blade]

I remember our U19s won their league group and got to the playoff final against Southampton in 2004, and Sharp was the top scorer. I’m not one who watches the academy teams, but I did go to the home leg of the final after keeping tabs on the team’s progress during the season. My recollection is that Sharp spent a couple of years scoring freely for the U19s and reserves without being given a first team chance. After his heroics at Rushden I thought he might get a chance on his return but Scunthorpe took a chance and off he went.

I can’t remember the score from the game against Southampton, only that Saints won the tie overall. We’d recently signed Simon Francis from Notts County but he was eligible based on his age and I thought it wasn’t in the spirit of the league to play him in the final. He wasn’t very good. I remember being impressed by Horwood at left back.

Found the team sheet on eBay, a couple of interesting names in the Southampton lineup!

 

[Beans]

I remember our U19s won their league group and got to the playoff final against Southampton in 2004, and Sharp was the top scorer. I’m not one who watches the academy teams, but I did go to the home leg of the final after keeping tabs on the team’s progress during the season. My recollection is that Sharp spent a couple of years scoring freely for the U19s and reserves without being given a first team chance. After his heroics at Rushden I thought he might get a chance on his return but Scunthorpe took a chance and off he went.

I can’t remember the score from the game against Southampton, only that Saints won the tie overall. We’d recently signed Simon Francis from Notts County but he was eligible based on his age and I thought it wasn’t in the spirit of the league to play him in the final. He wasn’t very good. I remember being impressed by Horwood at left back.

Found the team sheet on eBay, a couple of interesting names in the Southampton lineup!

View attachment 86798

Wow, Walcott had only just turned 15 then (born March 89). Did he get on? Any memories of him?

 

[Punk Blade]

Wow, Walcott had only just turned 15 then (born March 89). Did he get on? Any memories of him?

Honestly no idea. If he did get on obviously he didn’t make much of an impression! I’d remembered Best was in their team but that’s as much as I’d remembered from them.

 

[Silent Blade]

I watched a lot of Academy and reserves matches between 2001 and 2005. Thought Sharp was a good poacher but I thought he would be League 1 and 2 at the best if he made the grade. I thought Ian Ross and Jon Forte were more likely to play for us in the Championship level.

 

[PittsburghBlade]

Jacob Mellis made it however and I don't think many will argue over this one but he had the legendary, 'bad attitude' that takes some players down.

Ahhhhh the old "Bad attitude" shout despite not having a clue about the players personality.

He went to fucking Chelsea from Sheff utd pal and almost made it there.

 

[8lade]

Ahhhhh the old "Bad attitude" shout despite not having a clue about the players personality.

He went to fucking Chelsea from Sheff utd pal and almost made it there.

Yeah got booted for using a smoke grenade and stubbing a cigar on somebody, amongst other things. So pal, if you want to get precious about somebody just because they are your mate then I suggest you shouldn't be in such a rush to defend them when they have got such a well reported list of bad behaviour and criminal offences. I'm now doubting whether de Girolamo is such a holy figure given you have just shown your judgement is based on friendship and not the actions of the person you are defending. Pal.

 

[EddieColquhoun]

I remember my uncle telling me he'd watch our reserves beat Wendy 2-0 at Stocksbridge and Billy scored both. I kept asking him if we'd got any good players and he kept answering "Sharp was good".

 

[Rochdaleblade]

I think sharp, Forte, Ross, Marrison, Hurst and Ashmore were meant to be stand out players from that team. I have vague memories of forte and Hurst making un-noteworthy sub appearances. Ross was meant to be Michael Browns replacement but I can't remember him featuring at all.

 

[BettingBlade]

Can't imagine Neil Warnock's striker fetish helped Billy when trying to break through the first time round. Colin must have had at least 6 first team strikers on the books at any one time.

Also, I signed Jacob Mellis back for the Blades once on football manager so I imagine he did make it in a parallel universe somewhere.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Ahhhhh the old "Bad attitude" shout despite not having a clue about the players personality.

He went to fucking Chelsea from Sheff utd pal and almost made it there.

Young Mellis got bombed out of the club with this ringing in his ears. It's clear you're the one with no idea:

 

[Rob86]

I remember our U19s won their league group and got to the playoff final against Southampton in 2004, and Sharp was the top scorer. I’m not one who watches the academy teams, but I did go to the home leg of the final after keeping tabs on the team’s progress during the season. My recollection is that Sharp spent a couple of years scoring freely for the U19s and reserves without being given a first team chance. After his heroics at Rushden I thought he might get a chance on his return but Scunthorpe took a chance and off he went.

I can’t remember the score from the game against Southampton, only that Saints won the tie overall. We’d recently signed Simon Francis from Notts County but he was eligible based on his age and I thought it wasn’t in the spirit of the league to play him in the final. He wasn’t very good. I remember being impressed by Horwood at left back.

Found the team sheet on eBay, a couple of interesting names in the Southampton lineup!

View attachment 86798

Dominic Roma was great on Championship Manager 2006 !

 

[nopigfansintown]

I was a regular academy watcher and on the payroll in a minor capacity up to 2010ish. Sharp was always a phenomenal natural goalscorer. His movement and finishing were always top draw. What you question at that age is whether they have the physical attributes. Sharp was quite slight, small and not that quick so you wondered whether that would stunt his potential or limit his career to the lower leagues. The likes of Walker, Naughton, Jagielka, Adams, Calvert-Lewin, Ramsdale all spent time in the academy and seemed destined for bigger things, due to the physical advantages they had over their peers. Your imagination could transport them to big boys football and imagine them succeeding.There are a lot of smaller, frailer, in some cases more technically able young kids that fall by the wayside.Physicality is a platform that allows you to show your technique.

 

[bertieblade]

I was a regular academy watcher and on the payroll in a minor capacity up to 2010ish. Sharp was always a phenomenal natural goalscorer. His movement and finishing were always top draw. What you question at that age is whether they have the physical attributes. Sharp was quite slight, small and not that quick so you wondered whether that would stunt his potential or limit his career to the lower leagues. The likes of Walker, Naughton, Jagielka, Adams, Calvert-Lewin, Ramsdale all spent time in the academy and seemed destined for bigger things, due to the physical advantages they had over their peers. Your imagination could transport them to big boys football and imagine them succeeding.There are a lot of smaller, frailer, in some cases more technically able young kids that fall by the wayside.Physicality is a platform that allows you to show your technique.

Totally agree and is the reason why Man City let Brooks go and in my opinion the reason why he will never realise his full potential. Skill in abundance but without the physical attributes to survive against people who will kick and bully him.

 

[mattbianco1]

I remember our U19s won their league group and got to the playoff final against Southampton in 2004, and Sharp was the top scorer. I’m not one who watches the academy teams, but I did go to the home leg of the final after keeping tabs on the team’s progress during the season. My recollection is that Sharp spent a couple of years scoring freely for the U19s and reserves without being given a first team chance. After his heroics at Rushden I thought he might get a chance on his return but Scunthorpe took a chance and off he went.

I can’t remember the score from the game against Southampton, only that Saints won the tie overall. We’d recently signed Simon Francis from Notts County but he was eligible based on his age and I thought it wasn’t in the spirit of the league to play him in the final. He wasn’t very good. I remember being impressed by Horwood at left back.

Found the team sheet on eBay, a couple of interesting names in the Southampton lineup!

View attachment 86798

I'm friends with 3 of our squad these days.

Didn't realise they were in the same squad as Sharp and Francis

 

[Houso]

Definitely remember Ian Ross being the standout at that time.

We have a bit of a history of young CMs getting hype but then doing little, see also Graham Anthony.

On the striker point, Billy definitely didn't have as much buzz as Tony Battersby.

 

[Bert]

Definitely remember Ian Ross being the standout at that time.

We have a bit of a history of young CMs getting hype but then doing little, see also Graham Anthony.

On the striker point, Billy definitely didn't have as much buzz as Tony Battersby.

Or Clive Mendonca.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

Totally agree and is the reason why Man City let Brooks go and in my opinion the reason why he will never realise his full potential. Skill in abundance but without the physical attributes to survive against people who will kick and bully him.

Broadly, I agree. Brooks has an obvious disadvantage because of his smaller stature. However, what I did notice about him was his tenacity. If he got knocked off the ball, he was upright quickly & back into it. (I'm not sure if he still does that now). He was "easy" to knock off the ball, but the defender would have to do it time & time again.

 

[Silent Blade]

I'm friends with 3 of our squad these days.

Didn't realise they were in the same squad as Sharp and Francis

Francis wasnt in our Academy squad but the club decided that he should play in the final as he was young enough. Wouldnt surprise me if some in the squad (and their parents) who werent happy about Francis walking straight into the team for the final.

 

[sheepbridge]

From what I remember Sharp played in the pre-season games after returning from loan at Rushden where he had done really well and scored quite a few goals and looked good (9 springs to mind but that is probably totally wrong) so it was a bit of a surprise when he was sold to Scunthorpe. Well to me it was anyway.

 

[mattbianco1]

Francis wasnt in our Academy squad but the club decided that he should play in the final as he was young enough. Wouldnt surprise me if some in the squad (and their parents) who werent happy about Francis walking straight into the team for the final.

Ha. Well I text that team sheet to my mate. And he replied saying he played RB for the first leg then got binned for Francis

If you know enough about the positions of our subs, you'll know who I mean.

The other 2 I know both started

 

[Digs blade]

I remember our U19s won their league group and got to the playoff final against Southampton in 2004, and Sharp was the top scorer. I’m not one who watches the academy teams, but I did go to the home leg of the final after keeping tabs on the team’s progress during the season. My recollection is that Sharp spent a couple of years scoring freely for the U19s and reserves without being given a first team chance. After his heroics at Rushden I thought he might get a chance on his return but Scunthorpe took a chance and off he went.

I can’t remember the score from the game against Southampton, only that Saints won the tie overall. We’d recently signed Simon Francis from Notts County but he was eligible based on his age and I thought it wasn’t in the spirit of the league to play him in the final. He wasn’t very good. I remember being impressed by Horwood at left back.

Found the team sheet on eBay, a couple of interesting names in the Southampton lineup!

View attachment 86798

As I mentioned earlier I went to quite s few of the academy games in that era and also went to this match but have absolutely no memory of the goalie Thomas Lindley.

Remember Southampton’s front two that night of best and blackstock were a right handful for us and both made a career out of the game,

Didn’t realise looking back that Martin Crainie, Theo Walcott and Andrew Surman were also part of their squad

 

[Digs blade]

Ha. Well I text that team sheet to my mate. And he replied saying he played RB for the first leg then got binned for Francis

If you know enough about the positions of our subs, you'll know who I mean.

The other 2 I know both started

Well I think Haystead was a goalie, Gyaki a centre mid and Platel a forward so I guess it’s one of the other two?

Talking of Platel I seem to remember he was some relation to Carl Asaba

 

[BobblesBlade]

Dominic Roma was great on Championship Manager 2006 !

I’ve heard he now travels round the country in a caravan