AMBITIOUS Slimbridge are to give youth a golden chance to shine in a concerted attempt to push the club on – and it all starts this spring, writes Simon Parkinson.

The Wisloe Road outfit’s first and only senior team lifted themselves out of the Toolstation Western League and into the Evo-Stik Southern League for the first time in their history in 2014-15 under then-manager Leon Sterling’s stewardship, as a third-place finish behind Buckland Athletic and champions Melksham Town proved sufficient for elevation.

As those two clubs continue their quest to join the Gloucestershire side at the higher football Step 4 status, Slimbridge are well into their third campaign in the Southern League West Division.

And while they continue to fight their battles in and around the lower reaches of the table as they’ve done from the moment they arrived, efforts are being stepped up in a bid to ensure they not only stay put for the long haul but adapt to become a truly competitive force at the level and, it is hoped, beyond.

Which is why a bold new under-18 development wing of the club is in the throes of being set up, presenting opportunities for aspiring semi-professional players to take part in open training sessions at their Thornhill Park HQ on Tuesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 10 between 6.30pm and 8pm.

Slimbridge have already entered their new development team into next season’s Midland Floodlit Youth League competition when all fixtures will be contested in midweek, with home games played on the senior side’s main pitch.

Adam Coyle, who is head coach of a Gloucestershire FA Under-18 representative team which impressively reached the FA County Youth Cup semi-finals recently, will take charge of the new development section, while Slimbridge’s development and fund-raising manager Linda Morgan explained: “We’d like to hear from highly-motivated, dedicated and talented young players and invite them to join one of our training days in May.

“This new under-18 section is part of a ten-year plan to progress the club into the National League. With just the one senior side at Slimbridge it is vital that we have a good young youth team packed with talented and ambitious players eager to push for first team places.

“Slimbridge AFC is an exciting place to be right now as we own our own ground and the people there are brilliant.

“The under-18 players will be given home and away kit and tracksuits to make it as professional and special an experience for them as possible, and the first team manager Freddy Ward is being very supportive of it all. It’s a great opportunity for young players to become part of the only semi-pro club in the local area.”

Linda added: “The club as a whole have done extremely well to get to where they are and introducing an under-18 team can only attract more people, boost attendances and just help make Slimbridge more successful.

“We need a new stand and a new committee room and having this development section can only enhance prospects of generating more money to fund these things.”

Anyone wishing to attend one of the two training days should contact development team manager Adam Coyle at slimbridgedevelopment@gmail.com

He has coached at Forest Green Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Manchester United Soccer Schools and scouted for Bristol City during an action-packed career on the training pitches.

Adam enthused: “This new team is a really exciting opportunity for local under-18 players who are serious about developing into semi-professional football.

“We are serious when we say we want to produce players for our first team. A lot of clubs say this but don’t deliver on their promises, so this is a real chance for players to progress into a good standard of adult football.

“We will give them the platform to express themselves and push on to have a realistic chance at a fantastic, well-run local football club.”