TOWN'S Academy has rightly taken plaudits for producing 15 of the first-team players used this season.
That's a remarkable achievement for Academy director Gerry Murphy and his staff - and the next generation are already moving down the production line.
Town are admitting six new players as Scholars next season - including two with strong family links to the McAlpine.
Nathan Clarke's brother Tom, from Halifax, has already made his mark as a centre-back this season and will start a new two-year programme in the Academy in July.
Midfielder Adam Wilson, from Highburton, will also be looking to follow in the footsteps of his father Rob, who played for Town from 1989-91 and is now a junior coach.
Ashley Beck, a centre-back from Wakefield, Matthew Biddle (striker, Birstall), Daniel Highley (striker, Wakefield) and Daniel Racchi (midfielder, Halifax) are the others who will join the new programme.
"Our FA Academy Premier League football next season will be Under 18, to bring it in line with the FA Youth Cup," explained Murphy.
"The Under 16s will also play on Saturdays while on Sundays we will play U9-U15 levels.
"The system is changing because of the Government's modern apprenticeships, so the Scholars will do two years instead of three, but we are aiming simply to continue all the good work which has been done over the years.
"We have just had a fantastic spell with lots of lads getting into the first team, and that's a great credit to every single staff member of the Academy.
"And we are very happy with the quality of young players we have got coming through the age groups at the moment.
"We always try to identify talented players and then stretch them as much as we can by pushing them to play in higher age groups.
"This has worked well for us and we'll keep it going."
