5 minute read
News at the PTS Academy Stadium
from NTFC v Burton Albion
by Weatherbys
NEWS
ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE PTS ACADEMY STADIUM
THANK YOU PABLO AND GOOD LUCK ASHLEE
Thank you and good luck to Fitness Coach Pablo Garcia who has left the club to take on a similar role at a Championship club. Good luck too to Ashlee Adebayo who has moved up from academy to take over Pablo’s duties with the first team squad.
HELPING SHAY SUPPORT CYNTHIA SPENCER
Young Cobblers fan Shay Clarke is running a marathon from Rushden to the PTS Academy Stadium in April to support Cynthia Spencer Hospice. If you wish to support Shay or find out more, please see gofund.me/1762ebbe
BRADY FELT YOUTH TEAM PAID THE PRICE FOR A SLOW START LAST WEEKEND
Northampton Town Under 18s manager Jon Brady believes his team are 'better than we showed' during their 3-2 loss away to Southend United in the EFL Youth Alliance League South East last Saturday. Damaray Anyadike scored a first-half hat-trick for the hosts on a wet morning in Essex. Speaking after the match, Brady said: “Unfortunately, it was as if we were still on the bus, because they got in twice and we conceded two early on. “However, the boys deserve credit for their fight and spirit to get back into the game. “We made changes at half-time and started to turn it around, but we can’t start like we did today. “We had to get up very early, it was a long journey and it was an early kick-off, but there are no excuses. “It was disappointing because we believe we’re better than we showed, especially in the first-half.” The defeat means that the young Cobblers’ hopes of finishing top of the league are over. They remain in fifth place with three matches remaining. Brady added: “We had six first-years playing against a lot of second-years – there’s a big difference. “We want to be competitive at the top of the league. “If we win our last three games, we can finish second which would be a fantastic achievement for this group. “However, we’re looking to develop our players all the time, so we’ll make sure we blood in a few younger players before the end of the season.” The youth team host second-placed Luton Town this weekend. Tommy Curry and Liam Cross scored in a 2-2 draw away to the Hatters in November.
EFL HOLD ONLINE EVENT TO BOOST MENTAL HEALTH
The EFL held a special online event recently to keep the conversation around mental health going, as part of its Team Talk campaign. EFL and club staff - including EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch and Chair Rick Parry - were joined by current and former players and pundits such as Ben Foster, Don Goodman, Scott Minto and Caroline Barker for the virtual session, to discuss the importance of raising awareness and the League's partnership with mental health charity, Mind. Participants opened up on a range of important issues, sharing their personal experiences and forming small groups to swap stories. It comes after recent research from Mind showed that 60% of adults and 68% of young people felt their mental health had worsened during lockdown. Speaking whilst hosting the event, broadcaster Rachel Burden said: “This event has hopefully given everyone a boost during what is clearly a challenging time, because I think everyone's mental health has been affected by the pandemic. "The Team Talk campaign urges everyone to stay connected, because football is such a good common ground, and we've used that unique community and shared passion to get people together. We’re all in it together and hopefully the session lifted spirits and was really useful." Goodman added: "This session was excellent and really important. I’m one of the fortunate ones who is still able to do their job and commentate on live football, but last season we went from March through to June with no football and it was really hard, I found it tough and sometimes with sessions like this, it’s nice to get an insight into people’s home lives away from football, but whilst having football as the common ground. “Everyone will have different things that keep them going, it may be training, it may be working, it may be a combination of both or it may be something completely different. I've had a couple of bad days since the pandemic started myself and I promised myself never again, it’s important to concentrate on what you can do and keep your mind occupied." All 72 EFL clubs are supporting the campaign.
SUPPORTING MIND CHARITY
Local team Sixfields Rangers are raising funds for the Mind mental health charity. They are running a virtual relay from their home ground to Munich - totalling 1,133km. If you wish to support their efforts, please visit justgiving.com/fundraising/runtomunich
WEMBLEY WEEKENDER FOR PAPA JOHN'S TROPHY
The EFL has confirmed that a unique action-packed ‘Wembley Weekender’ of football will take place in March for the 2020 and 2021 Papa John’s Trophy Finals. In an EFL Trophy first, the two finals will be played in succession over the weekend of 13-14 March 2021, with last year’s postponed match between Portsmouth and Salford City taking place first on Saturday 13 March followed by the 2021 Final on Sunday 14 March. Both matches will be staged at Wembley Stadium, kicking-off at 3pm - with the action broadcast live on Sky Sports. Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett says: “For players, management, staff and supporters, going to Wembley Stadium is always a special occasion and we’re pleased to now have a date for the 2020 final. “It obviously won’t be the same without the fantastic Pompey supporters there to cheer us on, but we’ll do everything we can to win the game for them.” The 2020 final between Portsmouth and Salford City was originally due to take place in March 2020 but was postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The 2021 Papa John’s Trophy competition is currently at the Semi-Final stages with Lincoln City, Oxford United, Sunderland AFC and Tranmere Rovers remaining in the competition. Semi-Final ties will be played next Tuesday and Wednesday with both fixtures kicking-off at 6pm and live on Sky Sports. Papa John’s Trophy Finals Saturday 13 March 2021 - 2020 Final Portsmouth v Salford City 3pm Sunday 14 March 2021 - 2021 Final TBC 3pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Happy Birthday to Sam Hoskins who turned 28 last week.