Hungerford Town U23s have had a debut season to remember in the Suburban League
Hungerford Town U23s have had a debut season to remember.
They sit top of the Suburban Football League North Division, four points clear with a game in hand.
The side was set up last summer with the aim of consolidating the very best local talent and providing a pathway to the Hungerford first team.
Co-managers Jason Braidwood and Chris Passey have delivered an ideal inaugural season, winning 12 of their 15 games so far, while conceding just 14 goals.
Braidwood, once a Swindon Town youth player and former manager of Thatcham Town, is also a director at Procision Football Academy.
At Thatcham, he helped take the club into Step Four for the first time in its history.
He managed Kintbury Rangers’ successful development side last season, so was well equipped to identify the area’s top young talents.
“It’s not about winning, but maturing players,” Braidwood explained.
“But it’s gone better than we anticipated!
“I’ve known the Hungerford manager Danny Robinson for many years.
“We’ve always wanted to work together, but I was committed elsewhere.
“To be honest, I was looking to retire from football, but Robbo persuaded me.
“He wanted an under-23 side to produce players for the first team.
“I got together with Chris and we advertised for players.
“In the first training session we had about thirty turn up!”
The young side have made a fantastic start to life in the Suburban League, unbeaten at home and going toe-to-toe with St Albans City Academy for the title.
“We went into a world of the unknown,” he explained.
“Our main job is to mature players for Danny’s first team.
“But the standard is really good.
“I’m very much an out-of-possession coach, we have to get the ball back quickly.
“The players have adapted to that really well.
“When we are in possession we’re a very good side.”
Braidwood and Passey are given license to develop their players without interference from above, with both understanding exactly what Robinson needs from his sides.
“It’s a pleasure to work with Danny,” he said.
“He’s a first-class manager and a first-class person.
“He trusts me and we work together.
“Nine or ten of our lads have been training with the first team too, which helps.”
A number of the U23 players have already had some senior exposure, and there are plenty who Braidwood believes could make a permanent jump very soon.
“Cameron Squires is my skipper,” he said.
“He’s been with me for a decade growing up through grassroots football.
“He could quite easily play Step Four football.
“James Tomlinson is another good one, he’s done really well.
“Kian McNally was my Player of the Year at Kintbury, he’s developing really well.
“My son Alex is a goalkeeper who has been working with Ian Hobbs and Ryan Clarke.
“I’m proud of him, he’s just signed forms with the first team.
“Brad Passey has had his ups and downs in football, but he’s really progressing.
“People like Callum Ginger, Rhys Atkins, Alec Willoughby, Ali Thorp, they’re all pretty good.
“Another year and they could all be knocking on the door.”
