Alan McLoughlin: Swindon Town's academy a "breeding ground for good players"

Swindon Town Under 18 manager Alan McLoughlin has said that the club's youth academy is a breeding ground for good players.

McLoughlin, a Swindon Town legend who represented the Republic of Ireland in the 1990 World Cup while at the club, was speaking after his side lost in the FA Youth Cup Third Round to Queens Park Rangers.

The 49-year-old first outlined the superb work of the academy thus far that has seen the Robins ranked second in the EFL for fielding the most players aged under 21 or under.

Players such as Will Henry, Tom Smith and Jordan Young have all got regular minutes, both from the start and as substitutes, for Town in the last 18 months or so as the club's philosophy of developing young talent has not wavered. 

"I would like to think that when they (the academy players) watch the first team on a Saturday who are products of the academy they can see a pathway", McLoughlin began.

"We then have to decide which players come through for that pathway, and it's always a tough decision, it's important that players who could be coming into Swindon can see a pathway because you can go to some clubs and get swallowed in the environment which is academy football.

"I've seen many players play at under 23 level and not go any further than that.

"Will Henry - the goalkeeper (has had) opportunities to play in the first team on numerous occasions and now he has been training with England.

"Once you're in that environment for playing league football and you put yourself out there and you're performing then you give yourself a fantastic opportunity to move forward in your career.

"Ultimately it's about what the club can do going forward and I'm sure they will make every effort to utilise the academy - which they have done for many, many years. It's a breeding ground for good players."

McLoughlin then told Total Sport that the discussion between him and the first team coaching staff is regular and positive. 

"We speak (to Luke Williams, Ross Embleton and Tim Sherwood) on a regular basis. We have meetings in the mornings and the players are constantly used to come up and train with the first team which is fantastic.

"Luke, Ross, Seamus (Brady, sporting director) and Tim work out which players are required and they come up. 

"I try and rotate that as well so it's not just the same players so different players have that environment of going up and training with the first team - it does lift them and it gives the first team staff the opportunity to see the players a lot closer.

"They can't watch all the youth team games, they have to trust our judgement, particularly myself and Jeremy Newton to give feedback and information.

"So far we have got no complaints. We have a duty not just to produce players for Swindon but for their (the players') own personal gain so they can be signed by other teams."