Scholarships For James Laws and Jay Richardson
Dorking Wanderers is proud to announce today that two members of the U16's Elite Development squad, James Laws and Jay Richardson, have received and accepted offers to complete a DWFC Youth Development Scholarship with the football club.
As the growth and development of an unrivalled footballing structure and pathway within the club continues, the DWFC Youth Development Scholarship Programme underlines the football club's commitment to developing it's own players. James and Jay have been identified as players who can continue to progress and develop their talent and go on to one day represent the Wanderers first team.
James and Jay follow in the footsteps of the players who were the first ever recipients of DWFC Youth Development Scholarship's awarded last term, Dom Plank and Freddie Leather.
Part of the DWFC Elite Youth Section since he was 12, Dom's progress and journey in the past year since receiving his scholarship has continued at a rapid pace. After featuring numerous times for the 'B' Team and making a now infamous appearance for the first team in the Surrey Senior Cup where he scored two goals, last summer Dom signed a two-year scholarship with Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, where already in the early months of this season he has played in the club's U23s side.
Goalkeeper Freddie has been with the Elite Youth Section for a number of years and also played in the Sussex County League ahead of being offered a scholarship last year. In the past six months Freddie has been increasingly involved with the 'B' team and first team squads, and plays for the Academy 'A' team in the National League Academy South every week.
A Scholarship Panel of Marc White (First Team Manager), Jordan Clark (Director of Football) and Richard King (Head of Youth Development) will now monitor James and Jay's development moving forward, with a review every 6 months, and if their progress matches the club’s expectations, they will then be offered a professional contract on their 17th birthdays.
Benefits of the Scholarship include: Training & Playing Opportunities with the U18 and Elite Development Squads; 1 on 1 Coaching; First Team Mentors; Personalised Video Analysis; and Physio/Conditioning programmes.
Dorking Wanderers Youth Development (DWYD) identifies and recruits the best local talent, then helps them develop the technical, tactical, physical and psychological skills necessary to maximise their potential. DWYD teams play and train at Meadowbank Stadium, and all players benefit from a bespoke DWYD curriculum delivered by UEFA qualified coaches, video performance analysis, conditioning & fitness programmes, psychological support, and a positive, pressure-free environment for them to develop and enjoy their football. DWYD teams play on Sundays in the top division of the Surrey Youth League.
Richard King commented: "James and Jay have been members of the Elite
Section for 4 years, and I’m delighted that the club has shown its commitment to developing its own players, by recognising their potential, and rewarding them with these scholarships. There’s plenty of hard work ahead, but it’s a fantastic opportunity for them, and we will continue to do everything we can to maximise their potential and help them move up the pathway. James is an exciting attacking player, while Jay is a footballing centre-back, and I’m sure the supporters will enjoy watching their progress. They are part of a very talented U16s team, and we hope to offer more scholarships in the near future. Finally, I’d like to offer particular thanks to U16s coach Jack Clements, who has been instrumental in helping Jay, James and the rest of the U16s become the force that they are."
Marc White added: "The clubs youth set up grows year on year, both in numbers and quality. Jordan Clark and Richard King, in particular are instrumental in continuing to develop this section of the club, and it is great to see home grown players that are firmly on the pathway to the first team.
Jordan Clark also added: "We're again producing players from a pathway which is unrivalled in Surrey, and I'm so pleased that James and Jay have
achieved this scholarship and will be becoming full time with our Academy. They've performed brilliantly at U16 level and we look forward to watching their progress continue, and seeing what their future holds in football and beyond. Hopefully we have a couple of future Wanderers on our hands!"
If you have a talented, committed footballer, aged U8-U16, and interested in trialling for the Dorking Wanderers Youth Development section, please email richard@dorkingwanderers.com