Top 5 CAFC Academy Graduates

[Tom1982]

As above really. I forget how many decent players we’ve had involvement with. Parker, Gomez, Shelvey, Konchesky, Konza, Lookman, Minto, Bowyer and plenty more.
We’ve got some decent prospects now too!
Who’s in your top 5 of all time?

[45LP]

Dillon Phillips one of my faves.

Was Rufus officially our academy ?

Judas Solly of course.

[jonkool]

Paul Walsh came through our youth set up and managed to score regularly as a kid aged 16 onwards until we flogged him to Luton.

He would be in my top 5 as striker is the toughest position on the field.

[hertsaddick]

Two more who came through the youth set up, Billy Bonds and Jermaine Defoe, though I don't think Defoe ever played senior football for us..

[Deleted]

Rob Lee

[manikin]

Some of my favourites have been mentioned above, plus Mike Bailey, Alan Campbell, Peter Reeves, Len Glover and Paul Elliott.

[sevenoaks]

I think, all of us, that have had the privilege of watching those young players, were so lucky.

[Tom1982]

Would Pope and Aribo qualify!? Karlan Grant was pretty handy too.

[valley57]

The 1960’s were very productive Billy Bonds Keith Peacock Mike Bailey Alan Campbell Dennis Booth Bob Curtis Len glover Phil Warman Brian Kinsey Peter Reeves
Paul Went Vic Halom Marvin Hinton most players were sold to clubs higher than us apart from a few that we kept I think the youth set up was a bit different then we signed a few players as amateurs at a young age.

[sevenoaks]

Carl Jenkinson, was another good one from the academy.

[45LP]

Apr 2, 2023 22:41:14 GMT valley57 said:

The 1960’s were very productive Billy Bonds Keith Peacock Mike Bailey Alan Campbell Dennis Booth Bob Curtis Len glover Phil Warman Brian Kinsey Peter Reeves
Paul Went Vic Halom Marvin Hinton most players were sold to clubs higher than us apart from a few that we kept I think the youth set up was a bit different then we signed a few players as amateurs at a young age.

Yes the "asset stripping" has been going on for longer than football forums. So easily forgotten/ ignored though.

[hertsaddick]

Apr 2, 2023 22:41:14 GMT valley57 said:

The 1960’s were very productive Billy Bonds Keith Peacock Mike Bailey Alan Campbell Dennis Booth Bob Curtis Len glover Phil Warman Brian Kinsey Peter Reeves
Paul Went Vic Halom Marvin Hinton most players were sold to clubs higher than us apart from a few that we kept I think the youth set up was a bit different then we signed a few players as amateurs at a young age.

I think your last paragraph is right. When I started playing youth football in the 60's there were no organised leagues until you reached the age of 16. Players were signed as amateurs, (Mike Bailey was signed from Gorleston Town) and started off in the 'A' or 'B' teams before rising to the Reserves and then 1st Team.

[kings hill addick]

It’s all very well complaining as our players are picked off by bigger clubs but we’ve signed players from smaller clubs and then sold them on for a profit so we shouldn’t complain about it.

Also, in many cases the players want to move on as they outgrow the level that we are playing at.

[manikin]

Apr 3, 2023 9:31:01 GMT kings hill addick said:

It’s all very well complaining as our players are picked off by bigger clubs but we’ve signed players from smaller clubs and then sold them on for a profit so we shouldn’t complain about it.

Also, in many cases the players want to move on as they outgrow the level that we are playing at.

It's the way football works.

[vaangard]

Tutt, Konchesky, Gomez, Parker, Defoe.

Mentions to Carlo, Mickey Bennett, Elliott (P), Solly, Fortune both Stuarts, Lee, Shelvey and Konsa.

[smudge7946]

Jonjo Shelvey
Lookman

[vaangard]

Lookman wasn't academy, joined at 16.