An introduction to Craig Bussens, the latest featured scholar.
Craig Bussens is another young player with experience of top-level academy football who has decided to make his footballing waves via Cambridge. He joined the United set-up this summer and certainly impressed the then first team management team.
16-year-old Craig, who began his career with Norwich City, was attracted to the U's by the "good friendly atmosphere" and his strong desire to further his career as a pro footballer.
Many youngsters with ambitions of high-level professional football choose to build their way up from lower down the ladder where there are more opportunities of regular competitive football. This is just the role that the CRC team - Cambridge United's reserve team - plays, as the teenagers compete against stronger and more experienced individuals.
Lest we forget the ages of Craig and his team mates, it is worth remembering that six of the starting line-up in a recent CRC fixture against table-topping Needham Market were first-year scholars aged just 16. It is inevitable that the team will offer a lesser degree of consistency than older teams with many years of football behind them, but patience and confidence are key.
These youngsters undoubtedly have ability - Craig and the team have shown this in patches this season already - but are still developing both as footballers and as young men. Furthermore, though the team are currently languishing in the lower reaches of what is a very competitive division, so long as they keep their heads up, the results will come as quality shows through.
Craig received the opportunity to exhibit this quality as he faced his former club shortly after leaving the Norfolk side, in United's pre-season friendly at home to Norwich. He was introduced to the fray in the second period after both sides had made reams of changes, and acquitted himself well out wide in an eventual 3-1 defeat.
In that match he came face to face with a number of experienced Canaries such as Wales international Rob Earnshaw. To appear alongside and against such seasoned pros will surely be of significant benefit to Craig and his development and he lists this appearance as his best moment so far in football. With luck this appearance at the Abbey will be the first of many for the Cambridge United first team.
One must remember that Craig, a first-year scholar, has only just begun his two year education with the Youth Team, and has only a handful of games under his belt from a possible 84 by the end of the two-year scheme. Head of Youth Development and CRC team manager Jez George comments, "The next eighteen months is extremely exciting for these players."
Bussens has played in the majority of CRC games this term, as well as in the recent FA Youth Cup successes, and to great effect. Not only does Craig supply passes and crosses for his team mates, he has also proved he is capable in front of goal with strikes against Needham Market and Soham Town Rangers.
Without doubt, a goalscoring midfielder is an invaluable asset for a team, but Manchester United supporter Craig also lists his best qualities as "passion, speed, strength and fitness." These are all prerequisites for a successful midfielder, at any level, and it is no surprise to hear that the player Bussens admires most is England ace Steven Gerrard.
Craig is impressed by the Liverpool man's "passion for the game" and the way in which "he makes things happen", not least the fact he "has a great engine on him".
The CRC midfielder has a clear aim in both his career at Cambridge United and his footballing career as a whole. He is keen to become a pro here at the Abbey Stadium and also to play at the highest level. But, as we always say, let's hope Craig will be playing at the top level with this famous club.
Despite all Craig's appearances this term, one game he missed was the sole CRC win of the season - away at King's Lynn Reserves - so the youngster from Norwich will be desperate to spur the side on to many more future victories in the coming weeks and months. He has already shown he is a versatile midfielder, performing ably on either flank and capably as a useful midfield support to the strikers.
We wish Craig Bussens the best for the Ridgeons Premier League Season, not least for his future in football.
You can catch a glimpse of Craig and the players of tomorrow when the youth team takes on Hednesford Town in their FA Youth Cup fourth qualifying round tie at the Abbey Stadium next Tuesday, 7th November, at 7.45pm. Admission £4.00 adults and £2.00 concessions.
By Henry Milward
Previous Featured Players:
12Oct06: Michael Hyem (scholar)
06Oct06: Rob Wolleaston
25Sep06: Matt Kendrick (scholar)
20Sep06: Jon Brady
14Sep06: Mark Peters
11Sep06: Jordan Collins (scholar)
Last season's Featured Players:
16May06: Jon Brady
04May06: Tommy Jaszczun
26Apr06: David Bridges
20Apr06: Scott Howie
13Apr06: Craig Westcarr
22Mar06: Andy Duncan
15Mar06: David Bridges
01Feb06: David Chick
08Dec05: Michael Morrison
29Nov05: Ritchie Hanlon
25Oct05: Stephen Smith
05Oct05: Fola Onibuje
29Sep05: Mark Peters
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