Director of Youth Dean Ramsdale has spoken of the lift that last night's Carling Cup victory over Stockport County has given the staff around the training ground.
Second year scholar Bailey Wright completed 90 minutes in the 5-0 victory with first year scholar Doyle Middleton coming on from the bench, becoming the youngest player ever to make his senior debut for Preston North End.
However, past these two players, there were a total of six players who are involved or have been involved in North End's youth setup under the guidance of Ramsdale and youth team manager Jamie Hoyland.
This statistic pleases Ramsdale who felt a great deal of pride when watching North End ease into the next round of the Carling Cup with Hoyland at Edgeley Park. Regarding the young players that were on display, Ramsdale told pne.com:
"It gives everyone a lift; it makes every player that we have got believe that there is an opportunity to play in the first team.
"Tied in with Doyle, we had Bailey there last night who played 90 minutes; we then had other products Danny Mayor and Adam Barton playing, with Conor McLaughlin and Jamie Proctor on the bench, so it is fantastic.
"We have had a chat amongst the first years and second years today and that is the opportunity that is now open to them."
The Director of Youth went onto say:
"It is credit to the work done at the training ground but for me it is credit to the manager, Kevin and Dave for having the belief in the players to give them the opportunity to go out and play for the football club."
Ramsdale was impressed with Wright and Middleton's contributions in the game and believes that it is great for the pair to be considered by Darren Ferguson and his coaching staff. Ramsdale said:
"Doyley has done brilliantly since he has come in. The Gaffer, Kev and Unsy have liked what they have seen and gave Doyle an opportunity to be on the bench.
"I suppose it was a good time to put him on when we were winning the game like we were, it was fantastic. Doyle has had quarter of an hour to 20 minutes and could have topped it off with a goal at the end.
"The pair have come in today and have worked really hard; we have given Doyle and Bailey some stick as they would expect from us.
"They don't need bringing back down to earth; they are two really good level-headed lads. You can tell that talking to them after the game it meant an awful lot to them, everyone that has come in today has congratulated them and now they know they need to do it again."
With injuries to Sean St. Ledger, Wayne Brown and with Craig Morgan off on international duty with the Welsh national team, Australian youngster Wright found himself operating at centre back with Billy Jones.
Ramsdale believed that the back four grew as the game went on with Wright and Jones forming a solid partnership.
"I thought that as a back four they were terrific last night," Ramsdale said.
"You look at Billy Jones, Billy Jones can play anywhere; he is that type of player. Bailey will talk; he is a mature boy and I thought that after the first five or ten minutes they were magnificent, they got a really good relationship going.
"Bailey didn't get bullied and as the game progressed, Bailey got even better. The lad was shattered at the end as you would expect but his face when he came off of the pitch says it all really. He was absolutely delighted to have got 90 minutes and make his debut for Preston North End."
It could now be back to youth team football now for Wright and Middleton with the Youth Alliance League kicking off on Saturday. Defending champions North End will be hosting Carlisle United and Ramsdale believes that this could be a very different season for the youth team. Ramsdale said:
"Whatever happens this season will happen, we had a really good side last year, we had some really good second years and to be fair, we sat down at the beginning of the season and made the decision to play our strongest side.
"This year might be a little bit different in that possibly one or two of our second years might be in and around the first team squad, which means that we might be a little bit lighter.
"Again though, our job isn't about winning leagues and winning Lancashire Youth Cup's, it is about giving the Gaffer players that can play in his first team. Sat in the box last night with Jamie, it was pleasing to see what we had actually passed over to the manager."
