THE FUTURE of Sphinx looks bright after the club’s under-18s side were confirmed as the Midland Floodlit Youth League Eastern Division Champions.
Sphinx only lost one game throughout the whole campaign and were crowned winners after Rugby Town failed to beat Oadby Town last Wednesday.
The team, who finish the campaign with a trip to Lichfield tonight (Thursday), also have a chance to win the double after progressing to the final of the Midweek Youth Cup where they will face Stourbridge FC (U18) on April 21.
“I am so pleased for all the lads, they have played some brilliant football this season and it is just rewards for the effort and character they have shown.” said Sphinx Under-18s manager Stuart Fraser.
“Winning the league is the icing on the cake but more importantly we have managed to supply eight players who have represented the first team and four of them have been regulars all season.
“I would like to thank the backroom staff and people that help out on match days as without them the team wouldn’t run as smoothly as it does.
“And also all the parents who bring and drop the lads here there and everywhere to make sure we have the best side out each time.”
First team Manager Luke Hopkins congratulated Fraser for the team’s success and revealed how the gap between the under-18s and first team has improved in recent years.
He added: “The challenge was for Stuart Dutton to provide the club with a good youth team that could feed the first team over the season.
“Firstly, he got Stuart Fraser in as his assistant and then went and got the best of best in Coventry at the right age group and put them together with players from the Under 16’s side.
“Dutton had to step down early in the season and Fraser stepped up with Lynton Wilkinson helping and they haven’t disappointed.
“In addition to bringing home the silverware I will always judge a youth team based how productive it is, and how many of the players go on to play first team football and on that basis it’s been very successful team.”
