davieG Posted 6 November 2010 Posted 6 November 2010 From the Merc Leicester City academy defender George Taft has been called up to the England under-18 squad to face Poland later this month. The left-back has become the latest product of the City academy to receive international recognition, and academy manager Jon Rudkin said it was a great honour for Taft. "It is a terrific honour for the boy to be selected to represent his country and it is great recognition of how far he has come within the past 18 months, for all his hard work and effort," said Rudkin. "George is a local boy and we hope that the experience of international football will help him towards his development, and it will bode well for the club. I hope he goes on to earn even more honours. "We have had many players move up to international level and I think the most high profile recent one was Joe Mattock, who is still the second youngest player to play for the England under-21s when he was just a 17-year-old with us." Taft is one of five players making their international debuts in Noel Blake's squad, who became the European under-17s champions in Liechtenstein in May. England face Poland at Wycombe Wanderers' Adams Park on Tuesday, November 16 (7.30pm). Meanwhile, Rudkin's side face Aston Villa at Belvoir Drive this morning (11.0) attempting to extend their lead at the top of Academy Group B. Supporters are welcome to attend. Last weekend's 2-1 home victory over Watford cemented their place at the top of the table. "Villa always provide strong opposition and it will be a difficult fixture for us," said Rudkin. "The performances have been very encouraging over the last few weeks. "We don't get drawn too much to the results because it is all about how the players are developing. "This is a different group to last season and it is a learning curve during the season. "Young players will always make mistakes but it is how quickly they learn from them and make sure they don't repeat them. "It is great for them and the club to be in this league and competing against Premier League clubs like Villa."
Webbo Posted 6 November 2010 Posted 6 November 2010 Anecdote of the week; I met his dad at a wedding last year. Nice chap, very tall.
Ashley Posted 6 November 2010 Posted 6 November 2010 Year below me at Longslade he was, that years team won everything regarding school leagues and cups.
The Doctor Posted 6 November 2010 Posted 6 November 2010 well done to him but we seem to hear this fairly regularly - academy player gets youth international call-up but never breaks through into our first team. Why? - surely if they're good enough to represent their country they're good enough for us.
TuptonFox Posted 6 November 2010 Posted 6 November 2010 great news for George it'll be a big step for him and hopefully Sven will notice if he has enough talent but not many academy players are getting through these days...
Guest ttfn Posted 6 November 2010 Posted 6 November 2010 well done to him but we seem to hear this fairly regularly - academy player gets youth international call-up but never breaks through into our first team. Why? - surely if they're good enough to represent their country they're good enough for us. That Buzzkill clip was wasted on the 'Meet the Old Boss' thread.
David Guiza Posted 6 November 2010 Posted 6 November 2010 Played with and against him a few times at Martins and Longslade, arrogant as anything but a very good player.
MPH Posted 6 November 2010 Posted 6 November 2010 I once bought some salt& vinegar crisps from the same shop he bought a mars bar from...
General Smuts Posted 6 November 2010 Posted 6 November 2010 Is he the one whose shagging Joe Mattock's sister?
Ashley Posted 6 November 2010 Posted 6 November 2010 Is he the one whose shagging Joe Mattock's sister? He is indeed.
Thracian Posted 6 November 2010 Posted 6 November 2010 Congratulations to the lad. He's tall for a full-back but looked to have a chance of breaking through whenever I watched him. Much to work on though so I hope he's not too arrogant to keep working on his faults.
Ashley Posted 7 November 2010 Posted 7 November 2010 He's also got a beast of a throw. Rory Delap esk.
teblin Posted 7 November 2010 Posted 7 November 2010 Did this lad play left back in the youth cup game against liverpool?
Ashley Posted 7 November 2010 Posted 7 November 2010 Did this lad play left back in the youth cup game against liverpool? Yes.
milan_foxes Posted 17 November 2010 Posted 17 November 2010 Tis nice seeing a City player on the scoreline for our county.
darko2k7 Posted 17 November 2010 Posted 17 November 2010 His cross for the second goal is pure World Class
Cat Burger Posted 17 November 2010 Posted 17 November 2010 His cross for the second goal is pure World Class Taft wasn't on the pitch at that point. Good cross though.
darko2k7 Posted 17 November 2010 Posted 17 November 2010 Taft wasn't on the pitch at that point. Good cross though. O sounded like he said great cross by George I must of miss heard him
Cat Burger Posted 17 November 2010 Posted 17 November 2010 O sounded like he said great cross by George I must of miss heard him Twas that Jordan guy who bagged the third. Looked a handful, admittedly only from those two highlights.
TAFT Posted 19 November 2010 Posted 19 November 2010 He repesented Leicester well as soon as he scored i was in the stands singing leicester till i die
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.