THE PROOF OF THE PUDDING IS IN THE EATING !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

I make no apologies for returning to 'my pet subject' - Youth Academy Football. Here he goes again I can hear you say, but bear with me for a minute or two and hear me out.

Let's face it, most footie clubs can't afford to go into the transfer market willy-nilly like Barca and ManYoo and sign up world class players like Messi and Ronaldo.

So, for clubs like Ankaragucu and Genclerbirligi, it usually comes down to signing 'cast offs' or, in the case of Hibernian FC, having a successful Youth Academy.

Yes, I know what you are all saying now ..... but, the successful players will ultimately join the 'big clubs'. True. But, at least the clubs which do have a successful Youth Academy will have the benefit of the academy players services for a few seasons, and, more importantly, encourage younger boys to aspire to a footie career if the facilities are in place.

So it is at Hibs, especially now with their new world class training facility. However, even before this facility was opened last year, the Club was always in the forefront of youth development.

The other point to bear in mind is that Hibs new training facility impresses the hell out of fathers when it comes down to signing their boys up on the dotted line !

Last season the Hibs Under 19s team were a close 2nd to Rangers in the Under 19 League. However, this season it is a a different story with the Hibs Under 19s team bringing the League Trophy out of Glasgow for the first time since the Under 19s League was inaugurated many moons ago. The Hibs team is also in the Scottish FA Under 19s Cup Final tonight against Rangers - the result will be posted in the comments section when known.

Here is a piece nicked from the Hibs website .....

Hibernian Under 19s clinched the Clydesdale Bank Premier Youth League title in the most dramatic manner possible at Fir Park this afternoon. Kurtis Byrne’s last minute winner gave Hibernian the three points they needed to clinch the title – in the last minute of the last game. The win leaves Rangers and Hearts chasing the runners-up slot while Hibernian are now on track for a double with the SFA Cup Final coming up on Wednesday at Hampden Park.

It doesn't take an Einstyein to figure out that this Youth Academy system works for clubs which don't have a cash free-flow, and it's my guess that Hibs will be receiving lots of requests during the summer from footie coaches around Europe to come to Edinburgh and study their system. Ankaragucu and Gencler are you listening ???!!!

I should also mention (again) that 7 of the present under 19 squad will join the 1st Team set-up next season. So, perhaps, the proof of the pudding is in the eating ??!!

All the best from Wise (but boring !!) Eski Kanka Jim