Quote: Div "I'm not sure. Clearly those clubs have a track record of turning out quality lads in numbers over a long period of time. You would hope that if the pro clubs have quality scouting that they would look at all clubs to identify talent. I guess to a degree the talent will gravitate to the stronger clubs. I think if players are poached on the suggestion that they have more chance of being spotted at a certain club its a bit dodgy but I'm not close enough to say whether that goes on or not to any degree.
Strangely Wigan St Patricks gave a game away to Blackbrook recently on the basis they couldn't raise a team as did Oldham St Annes and Leigh East - the latter were top of Division 1 at the time all very odd. As a result Blackbrook are Division 1 Champions following the controversial relegation from the Premier Division last season for non fulfillment of a fixture against Pilkingtons based around there being no warm water for showers !'"
That's what I was alluding to. I know of one player (a Wigan fan and season ticket holder
) who was playing at U14 for a Wigan based club who was told he would have a far better chance of being "spotted" if he moved to a much more famous Wigan amateur club.
He stood by his club and carried on playing with his mates. He eventually signed pro terms but not with Wigan. That was a few years ago by the way.
I have heard a similar story regarding two St. Helens based amateur clubs and the lad doing exactly the same and not signing for Saints. I'll fill you in with the details over the weekend at the hotel.
At a recent Wigan fans forum, the issue was raised by someone from the Chorley area regarding scouting outside the big two amateur clubs in Wigan.
