From Torquay to Cambridge

Cambridge United operates a Centre of Excellence and a Scholarship Scheme which, since re-forming in May 2005, has seen six players progress into the Blue Square Premier or higher.

However, due to a lack of parity in the funding of our scheme compared to Football League clubs and, in the case of our scholars, six other former Football League clubs in the Conference, the future of a youth scheme that involves over 1,000 local youngsters is in real doubt.

Unlike six other ex-Football League clubs in the Blue Square Premier (Torquay United, York City, Rushden & Diamonds, Wrexham, Mansfield Town and Oxford United):

• We are not included in the Football League Centre of Excellence Games Programme
• We do not receive ANY funding for our scholars (worth approx. £50,000/year)
• We are not allowed to play in the Football League Youth Alliance

Like six other ex-Football League Clubs:

• We receive NO funding for our Under 9's - 16's
• We have NO compensation rights for ANY of our young players
• We thus risk any of our youngsters being poached at any time by any other professional club for NOTHING.

To highlight these injustices, raise the shortfall of funding just to survive, and initiate a debate for CHANGE, Jez George (Head of Youth Development) and Matt Walker (Centre of Excellence Manager) are:

• Walking from Torquay to Cambridge (a marathon a day for twelve days)
• Inviting all Cambridge United supporters to join us with the last leg of our journey from the City Centre to the Abbey Stadium in time for the match against Burton Albion on Saturday 7th March
• Visiting Exeter City (our opponents in the play-off final last season), Yeovil Town (promoted to the Football League in 2003), Oxford United (who face similar problems to ourselves), and Luton Town (who may face relegation from the Football League and the associated loss of funding), taking in Oxford United v Torquay United on Saturday 28th February.

The first leg of our walk, from Torquay to Exeter, will highlight two anomalies:

1. A precedent was set by League Football Education (LFE) by allowing Torquay United re-admittance into their Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (ASE) programme, with the associated funding for their scholars and participation in the Football League Youth Alliance - despite Torquay United previously scrapping their youth policy.
League Football Education state that their remit is to deliver their Excellence Programme through 72 Football League Clubs but privately admit that inclusion should be based on merit, provided the club can offer 52 week/year full-time professional contracts for the successful scholars.
We fully support Torquay United but their inclusion was based on almost identical circumstances to ours. Cambridge United is being treated unfairly and our scholars are being denied the same football and educational opportunities as their counterparts at other clubs. We were even denied access to the ASE programme alone, without the associated LFE funding.

2. Exeter City, whose youth scheme was forced to survive with no funding or protection for their five seasons outside the Football League, were suddenly entitled to an annual grant of £180,000 and compensation rights for their youngsters after beating Cambridge United in last season's play-off final.
A goal from Rob Edwards cost our youth scheme, which with Football League status would also be entitled to LFE funding, almost a quarter of a million pounds for this season! But as the first two sections highlight, it's not just the money. It also means that we still have to organise our own fixtures and have no protection for our players.

Julian Tagg, Vice-Chairman of Exeter City, continues to debate this subject with the Football Association despite his club's promotion because it is a just cause. Cambridge United is not big enough to change things but, with your help, we hope to bring it to everyone's attention.

Please contact me on 07779 099416 or jezgeorge@cambridge-united.co.uk for further details.

Click here for the Youth Development Fact Sheet

YOU CAN PLEDGE FUNDS TO HELP IN ONE OF THREE SIMPLE WAYS
Send a cheque payable to CUYD to Cambridge United Youth Development, Trade Recruitment Stadium, Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8LN	Drop cash into the Donation Box in reception at Cambridge United Football Club	Donate via credit/debit card on the Cambridge Fans United (Fans Trust) website at www.helpcfu.co.uk

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