FLEETWOOD, Lancs, September 4, 2008

Fleetwood Town Under 18s have announced their first game of the Lancashire FA Floodlight Under 18 season. Manager Mike Sumner said “We open the season at Highbury against Myerscough College on Monday 8th September. We also have a FA Youth Cup match away to Padiham 24th September.”

The Under 18s pre-season consisted of three matches which saw one win, a draw and one defeat. The victory came in impressive style when Norcross Under 18s were on the wrong end of a 6-1 drubbing.

The Under 18s have are now part of the senior set-up at Highbury having moved from the Fleetwood Town Junior umbrella during the close season.  The move is intended to bring closer ties between the Under 18s, reserves and first team squad.  The new arrangement has already proved fruitful with Ollie Kelly (pictured below) tasting first team action during pre-season and Adam Sumner playing in the reserves first league game at Workington recently.

“It’s good for the lads to gain experience with the first team and reserves. It shows the new system is working. Age doesn’t come into it if you are good enough,” commented Sumner.

The manager was busy over the summer period bringing seven new signings into the squad including an additional goalkeeper. “We needed another keeper as Danny Hogg has moved up to the reserve squad.  We’ve signed Nathan Thompson who was released by Burnley last season,” said Sumner. Thompson provides competition for Tom Holland, who was a key member of the squad last term.

Kick-off on Monday in 7:30pm.