Head of Academy Stuart Jones says he is ‘excited for the future’ after it was revealed Rovers came out as the top club in the Championship for providing opportunities for home-grown players.

As part of the EFL’s Youth Development Week, which runs from June 7th-13th, it was announced that Rovers players amassed more appearances last season than any other team in the division through the EFL Futures programme, which is central to the EFL’s ambition to create opportunities for exciting young talent.

No fewer than 10 Academy graduates played first team football for Rovers in 2020-21 and Jones insists the whole club should take great pride in the achievement – but acknowledges that the success story must continue.

“It’s fantastic for us and it’s recognition for everyone connected with the club, from past staff who have now moved on, who have played a key role and done a lot of hard work over the years, to the current staff,” he said.

“We’ve got some outstanding people in the building with vast knowledge and expertise in player development, so it’s also a reward for them.

“We’ve got a first team manager who is willing to give young players opportunities, which is vitally important, the first team coaching staff who work with the young players, the Board and the Owners, in terms of their input and continued investment into the Category One, which is crucial, so I’ve got to say a huge thank you to them, and not forgetting the parents, who play a key role in supporting their young sons moving through the age groups in their journey towards the first team.”

With Darragh Lenihan, Ryan Nyambe and Lewis Travis now all established first team regulars, each with over 100 appearances for the club under their belts, and the likes of Scott Wharton, Joe-Rankin Costello and John Buckley hot on their heels, along with the next batch of rising stars eager to follow in their footsteps, the pathway and production line of promising players consistently coming through the system has never seemed stronger.

“We’re really excited for the future,” Jones added.

“We think we’ve got some really talented young players, in terms of the Under-23s, the Under-18s and some schoolboys that we feel have got a real chance to progress.

“I think our programme allows them to do that, in terms of the amount of work that goes into the development side of the individual player. It’s then about getting an opportunity at first team level and we’re very fortunate that we’ve got staff that are willing and want to give young players opportunities.

“Then within the team itself, we’ve got those experienced Academy graduates who have played a lot of games that I’m sure will help those young players as they progress into that environment.”

Having pushed Manchester City close in the Premier League 2 title race for much of the season, Rovers Under-23s ultimately finished fourth in the top flight of development football, whilst Rovers Under-18s enjoyed an outstanding second half of the 2020-21 season, winning nine of their last 11 league games to secure a top half finish.

A number of players from those age groups, including the likes of Dan Pike, Jake Garrett, Lenni Cirino and Zak Gilsenan, have since been rewarded with new deals or their first professional contracts with the club and Jones believes it bodes well for the future, with plenty of potential prospects rising through the ranks.

“It’s pleasing in what has been a challenging year, in terms of the programme and all of the restrictions,” he said when reflecting on the unprecedented 2020-21 campaign.

“For us to do really well in both leagues, the Under-18s and the Under-23s, it’s fantastic for us. The football club want to tie our best young assets down long-term and that’s really important, because it allows us to continue that development work with those players that we know are going to be at the club for a long period of time.

“So it’s really exciting as we move forward. We’ve got a lot of players now who have signed new contracts and we’re really looking forward to the coming years.”

With football finances decimated by the Coronavirus pandemic and overseas recruitment restricted due to Brexit implications, Jones admits that clubs will be more reliant on producing home-grown players in the current climate than ever before, but insists it’s a challenge that he and his staff will strive to succeed in.

“It’s something that we’ve spoken about as staff within the Academy,” he concluded.

“There is a bigger emphasis on a lot of Academies now to work hard to produce their own. It’s something that we’ve used within the Academy to drive staff on and they understand the importance of the work that we’re doing.

“And the positive news that has been highlighted by the EFL this week is real recognition for the staff and the value to the work that goes on within the Academy across all departments.

“What we’ve got to do now is we can’t just stand still, we’ve got to continue to evolve. I’m sure the Owners will continue to invest and we’ve got to make sure we continue to progress players not just for our first team, but top Premier League quality players that hopefully will play in the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers. That’s our aim and we’ll continue to strive to do that.”

Academy players progress … a success story set to continue!