Words John Edwards Pictures Karl Brooks

Altrincham's increasingly productive youth system has received further recognition after two of our most promising youngsters dominated Witton Albion's player-of-the-year awards evening last night.

First year professional Joel Bailey and Academy keeper Louie Fallon spent time on loan at the U Lock It Stadium last season, and while football can divide opinion at times, manager Ben Harrison and the club's supporters were as one in acknowledging the Alty duo's role in safeguarding their place in the Pitching In Northern Premier League West Division.

When the individual awards were handed out in Wincham Park's social club, both Ben and the fans could see no further than our two teenage prospects for first and second place.

Former Alty favourite Ben, who knows a thing or two about defending after his time with the Robins, went for talented centre-back Joel as manager's player of the year, closely followed by Louie as runner-up.

When it came to the coveted supporters' award, it was highly-rated keeper Louie, who filled in so impressively when Ethan Ross went off injured against Braintree in February, who took the top prize, with Joel not far behind with the second-most votes.

What an endorsement of not only the application and skill level shown by Joel and Louie in the highly-competitive environment of NPL football but the role played by the Academy staff, led by manager Paul Fay, and Reserves coach Danny Jarrett in helping and supporting their development.

Alty boss Phil Parkinson was delighted with the accolades for two of the Robins' brightest young stars and saw it as a significant step forward in their progress towards senior status at The J.Davidson Stadium.

"I've just messaged both of them to congratulate them on the awards - it's great news," he said. "With Joel, it has been the most successful first loan for a first-year pro, and when you consider Louie is still in the Academy, it is an outstanding achievement by both of them.

"For them to be at a club like Witton Albion is fantastic, and to be such prominent figures in their first team speaks volumes for them.

"It's a credit to everything that is done at the Academy by Paul Fay, Ross Speight, Saran Newton, Rory (Ruaridh Iacovou) and Morgan Chilton and also to the input from Danny Jarrett with the Reserves.

"I think we are seeing that the gap is closing more and more to where it needs to be for the lads to really push for a first-team spot.

"We've seen how well Owen German has done in his loan spell at Alfreton, and now we are focusing on what is a fantastic achievement by Joel and Louie to be so successful at a big club like Witton Albion at the level they are at. The experience from that first loan will stand them in brilliant stead.

"I hope next season will be an even stronger one for them at a higher level, but we are really happy with the progress both of them have been making and pleased all their efforts have been recognised."

Academy manager Paul Fay provided an insight into how both players have risen to prominence by saying:

"Joel's background is that he was at Manchester United and Burnley as a youngster and we picked him up from Manchester Health Academy after I watched him playing there.

"He is a ball-playing centre-half, and there can be no question about his technical ability. We saw that straightaway, and his stepping out with the ball has always been outstanding.

"It has just been a case of teaching him the game, how to get better at what he does and how to be more communicative and vocal on the pitch. He is naturally a quiet lad but that side of his game has come on.

"It was no surprise at all when I saw he had won the manager's player-of-the-year award at Witton. It shows the work we have done with him in the Academy and how much he has benefitted from being in with the first team every day.

"There has been a massive improvement in the lad, which is great to see.

"When I took the Cheadle Nomads job two seasons ago, Joel would have been 17 and I took him over with me. Our first match was away to Market Drayton, and it was something of an eye-opener for him because they had a big feller up front who gave him a bit of a tough time!

"But I knew it would take him a few weeks to settle in and it would be a learning process that would benefit him, and he was soon playing week-in week-out for the Nomads at 17 years of age, which is testament to him and the ability he has.

"I hope he can kick on again next season, but, from the Academy end here, we are really happy with how he is doing.

"Louie has been with us since his under-16 days. The first time I saw him play, what struck me was his ability with the ball at his feet. A centre-forward come could bearing down on him, and he's calmly sidestep him and play the ball out to someone.

"He has always looked so comfortable with the ball at his feet, so it was then just the technical side we needed to concentrate on, and the positive effect of all the work put in by Academy goalkeeper coach Morgan Chilton and more recently by Ethan Ross shows the development that's in the lad.

"He is a brilliant lad, very level-headed and grounded. Nothing really fazes him, and that was evident when he went on as substitute when Ethan was injured against Braintree in February. There were 20-25 minutes left of a big National League fixture in front of a home crowd, but he just took it all in his stride. That is a great attribute for a young man making his way in the game.

"Credit to the coaches involved but also to both players for taking on board everything they are told, and a shout-out as well to Ben Harrison and his staff at Witton for giving a 17-year old goalkeeper a chance at NPL level.

"It's a massive challenge for Louie and for us to get lads of that age to the required level, but he has certainly shown he is up to it."