Development Squad review
Goalkeeper Joe Rumney capped a good first season with the club, collecting two awards at the end of season Presentation Evening.
Joe collected the Players’ Player of the Year trophy and made it a double when he was also voted Parents’ Player of the Year.
The former Manchester City teenager made twenty appearances for the Development Squad and was regularly involved with the first team group, both at training and on match days.
“He has been excellent while training with us,” said goalkeeper coach, Billy Redden.
“I have to remind myself how old he is at times because he copes incredibly well. He’s always ready to listen be it from myself, Alex Mitchell or Danny Eccles and all the outfield players enjoy having him around. He always stays back for shooting practice and often frustrates his seniors by making save after save.”
Jack Sharpe caught the eye of the Development Squad coaches and he was nominated their Player of the Year.
The goals were spread about over the season with no fewer than seventeen players getting their name on the score sheet. Joe Carney collected the leading scorer award.
The Young Reds had a decent first season in the JPL, finishing 2nd in a division of nine and they also reached the quarter final of the League Cup.
Twenty-seven players represented the club in the JPL, FA Youth Cup and Cumberland Cup with a handful also turning out for the first team in the Northern Premier League.
One of those, Alfie McDonough, scored his first goals in the NPL with a memorable brace against Ashton United on the final day of the season.
He scored one of two hat-tricks the Development Squad registered, netting three in the 5-3 home win over Foley Meir.
Top scorer Joe Carney scored Reds’ only other hat-trick in the 4-3 away win over Warrington Rylands, arguably the team’s best result of the season having been three down at the interval.
