ACADEMY: Community bonds grow

This now takes our linked clubs to three junior teams which includes Carlisle City, as previously announced.

Academy coach Ben Benson said: "Cotehill and Cleator Moor are the final pieces of the jigsaw, in terms of our linked clubs, and we are absolutely delighted with the three teams that have decided to link up with us. 

"We hope this will turn into a long and prosperous relationship and we will be working together to deliver various programmes for the benefit of the players and coaches involved.

"Cleator Moor have shown over the years that there area is a hotbed of talent with our own Tony Caig starting there as a junior. Over the last couple of years we have integrated a lot of their players into our academy / pre-academy programmes and we have now put a plan in place which will hopefully benefit everyone."

"In Cotehill Crusaders we have another link with a team that is hugely progressive," he added. "We are very excited to link the clubs together, firstly due to Cotehill's fantastic reputation with regards to youth and coach development and, secondly, we are looking to help the club grow and grow. 

"Mark Birch and the coaching staff have done a terrific job with making the club so progressive and we are looking forward to helping the players and coaches along the way."

"The Carlisle City link up is well under way and both teams have already played some friendly games which where a huge success," he said. "I would like to thank the club officials, players and parents for their help on the day. 

"The rationale behind the work with these clubs is to try and provide better links throughout the community. This is by providing specialist coaching for players and coaches and a pathway for players of both clubs to progress as far as they can. 

"We are working tirelessly to improve our relations with grassroots clubs and this scheme should go a long way to helping with that."