We caught up with U16 Manager Mike Mair to get his reflections on his final season with Cambridge City Youth.

Building on a positive U15 season the squad was strengthened pre-season with some exciting new signings. We felt that we needed a bigger squad to manage the expected growth injuries, U18 early bird opportunities, and allow time for study and revision in the all-important GCSE year. Good players get better and develop faster in a competitive training environment that we were keen to create.

Pre-season was full of promise with several impressive performances in friendlies and an outstanding performance in a pre-season tournament finishing runners-up narrowly losing on penalties. We looked solid in our shape and creative in scoring goals. We also had an inspiring full-day training camp that included the boys creating their values and goals for the season.

It was a difficult and disruptive start to the season balancing game time and building the team albeit for a positive reason. The potential was being demonstrated which resulted in earlier-than-expected early bird opportunities with U18 and eleven of the squad experienced early U18 football. Three, Charlie Collard, Paulo Marce-Mostig, and Will Fridd signed for the 1st team. An outstanding achievement and recognition.  

As the season progressed we began to settle and went on an unbeaten run from mid-November to mid-February with some very encouraging performances. At a training session, we asked the boys for feedback and they all appeared engaged and connected, enjoying the fantastic new facilities and the outstanding training sessions facilitated by Neil.

As the boys get ready to transition to U18 football. Eight of them have been offered the opportunity to join the Thurlow Nunn U18 squad. The rest of the squad have the opportunity to join the newly formed U18 EJA squad and continue their football development at Cambridge City. Although our league position was not as anticipated given the early season promise, we should conclude that the season was a success in terms of player development and progression.

Finally, in a period of player movement between clubs a special mention to Daniel Mair, Luke Scrivener, Alessio Nicholson, and Alfie Tomasso all of who completed the full youth experience from U12 to U16 at Cambridge City.

Wishing the boys all the very best with their GCSEs and continued football development.

Mike Mair

Finally Cambridge City FC would like to say a huge thank you to Mike and his No. 2 Neil Scrivener as they step away from their current roles. Mike and Neil have made massive contributions to the Youth set-up and have been tireless in their pursuit of developing the boys from an early age into contenders for the U18s and first team. Also off the pitch, supporting the Red Hen project and giving the boys the opportunity to give something back to the game and the community.

You will both be sorely missed and we wish you nothing but success for the future.