BROMSGROVE Sporting’s under-21s will ply their trade in the Midland League Reserve Division next season, it has been announced.
Manager David Smith told the Standard staying in the newly-formed MFL Under-21 East Division would not have been sustainable due to trips to Milton Keynes College and Northamptonshire sides Kettering Town and AFC Rushden and Diamonds on the cards.
With kick-offs at 10.30am for those games, Smith felt the travelling costs for the young players and their parents would have been too much.
Therefore the move to the Reserve Division – which will feature the likes of Cadbury Athletic, Alvechurch and Walsall Wood – was one that needed to be taken.
Smith said: “Alvechurch, Worcester City, Highgate United and Heart of Worcestershire College are in the opposite West Division yet they are our neighbours.
“Playing in the Reserve league will mean less travelling for us.”
He added the other reason they switched divisions was both he and first-team boss Paul Smith believed the Reserve League bridged the gap to adult football ‘better’ as the majority of Sporting’s under-21s are getting close to the age cut off.
“While I will keep a predominantly youthful side, still promoting from younger age groups when they are ready, it gives us scope to add experienced players,” he said.
“This includes first-team players who may be needing game time.”
Sporting’s newly-renamed reserve side play at Earlswood Town with kick-offs at 2pm in the winter and 3pm during the rest of the season.
Any players looking to join the club can contact manager David Smith on 07976 607792.
The team’s pre-season schedule has also been confirmed but kick-off times are yet to be finalised:
Sat, July 15 (H) – CT Shush (South Bromsgrove School 3G)
Sat, July 22 (A) – Bolehall Swifts Res
Tue, July 25 (A) – Malvern Town U21s
Sat, July 29 (A) – Old Cross Athletic
Wed, Aug 2 (A) – Inkberrow
Sat, Aug 5 (A) – Solihull Moors Academy
Sat, Aug 19 (A) – Wake Green Amateurs (subject to confirmation of season start date from MFL)
