Stratford Town's cup heroes hailed as 'best in the Midlands'

MANAGER Clive Seeley has hailed Stratford Town’s youth team as the “best in the Midlands” following their historic Midland Floodlit Youth League Cup triumph last week.

Town lifted the trophy for the first time in their history following a 2-0 victory against Oadby Town in the final at Bromsgrove Sporting’s Victoria Ground last Wednesday.

The success follows hot on the heels of the team clinching second spot in MFYL Premier Division South a week earlier, while Stratford’s under-18 Saturday team, featuring many of the MFYL squad players, are celebrating after winning the Midland Junior Premier League Cup.

Town’s youth setup has also clearly impressed senior team boss Carl Adams, who has regularly called up the likes of Charlie Faulkner, Charlie Evans and Luke Fox to the first team.

“I’m so proud of the boys,” said youth team boss Seeley.

“They fully deserved to win the cup. It’s been a magnificent season and they’re a great bunch of lads who battle hard for each other.

“They never give up and they have got their reward.

"I believe we’ve got the strongest under-18 group in the Midlands.

"A lot of the players here have been involved in bigger professional football academies, so there’s a lot of talent in the squad.”

Seeley says it will be difficult to replicate Stratford’s cup heroics and expects many of Town’s class of 2016 to form long and established careers in the professional game.

He added: “It’s going to be difficult to replicate this next season because this squad features an outstanding bunch of players.

"I think a lot of them will go on to earning quite a bit of money playing football in the future.

“Carl (Adams) comes to a lot of the games and I can’t describe how important that is to the players, to know the door is open and the opportunity is there for them.”

Adams has echoed Seeley’s thoughts and said the youth team’s success emphasises Stratford Town’s overall progression as a football club.

He said: “It just shows how solid this club is. Clive has brought on three lads that have featured in the first team this year.

“The club is progressing well and on a firm base for the future.

“I’ve been to ten to 15 games this season and I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen.”