Albion link stalled

AN AMBITIOUS plan to develop footballing talent in the Sussex area has been put on the backburner.

Former Brighton player Colin Woffinden unveiled plans to re-ignite the careers of young players who had been released by the Albion two months ago.

He decided to act after seeing promising players continually disappear into the abyss of the County League treadmill and approached Peacehaven Football Club with a view to nurturing talent at senior level. His idea was to fill the front two sides with ambitious teenagers looking to reach as high a standard as possible, without the emphasis on win-at-all-costs.

However, after failing to implement a satisfactory structure in time for the new season, Colin has, reluctantly, walked away from his big plan - for now.

'What I wanted initially was a recognised figurehead to run the club - a John Crumplin or a Russell Bromage for instance,' said Colin.

'Unfortunately, the guys I wanted were all tied up. I had plenty of support from the type of players mentioned, many of whom were going to support the initiative with a coaching input, but, without a named manager I felt the structure wasn't right to bring boys across to Peacehaven from all over the county.

'The whole idea was to develop talent and not let it go to waste. The whole emphasis on County League football is to win and not develop talent.

'Our focus wouldn't have been on winning but carrying out what we practice in training. Keeping the ball and not being afraid to do the right things which a lot of youngsters don't feel comfortable doing at County League clubs because there's always a lumping journeyman ready to give them some verbal.

'I wanted to keep them in a structured environment that they'd been used to at Albion.

'The players will have left the Withdean with good habits regarding training, fitness, dieting and generally looking after themselves. What I hate to see is all that progress go to waste.

'Darren Freeman's a great role model for these lads - someone who was rejected by the Albion but fought his way back into the Football League.

'Ideally he could have been someone to take this project on, but he's still not quite finished with playing.

'I want to get this plan up and running again but unfortunately I couldn't get everything exactly how I wanted it so I wasn't prepared to sell the boys down the river.

'It would have been good at Peacehaven as well because they've got three or four excellent youngsters already. Lee Newman looks a class player.

'Hopefully this isn't the end of the story and we can resurrect it in the near future.'

qOn Sunday a Peacehaven Old Boys side took on a Spurs XI with the game finishing 3-3.