AFC Totton
Southampton FC ‘B’ Team
Southampton Football Club recently announced a revamp in their club and their professional development phase programme ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
The announcement is part of a structural and philosophical overhaul in what was previously known as their ‘U23’s’ team, is now known as their ‘B’ team. This is in the hope that it will provide a pathway into the first team for their younger players. Not only has Southampton FC decided to make this change, we are excited to share that they have officially altered venues from Staplewood Campus and will play their Premier League 2 games, as well as other competitions at a primary base of The Snows Stadium. This isn’t just fantastic news to us here at AFC Totton, but it will also provide the younger players at Southampton FC stadium experience, which will be vital in their growth.
AFC Totton Chairman, Wayne Mew said; “We are delighted to welcome another Southampton Team to our ground for match days and we are excited to see some of the future talent on display at The Snows Stadium”.
Director of Football Operations at Southampton, Matt Crocker and Ralph Hassenhuttl have worked together in creating the new approach, with Matt explaining the thinking behind the change “The Under-23s has always been viewed as the pinnacle of the academy, but what we have tried to do here is make it more like a second first-team. It’s not so much about youth development at this stage anymore, it’s about replicating as much as possible, a professional environment that prepares players for that step up into the first team. Southampton is hopeful fans will play their part by supporting the players at Totton as soon as crowds are allowed to attend”.
Explaining about a philosophical change, Crocker also said “playing at Staplewood can feel more like a training day for the players, because that’s where some of them have come every day for the last 10 or 12 years”. Crocker continued “we know we can never completely replicate St Mary’s, but what we can do is replicate a number of the things that do happen there, so our younger players are better prepared for when they do come to experience that. To even get 1,000 people in to watch their games regularly helps provide more of a true stadium experience. We really want the help of supporters to attend and create that match atmosphere for the players.”
We are looking forward to welcoming the new, revamped Southampton B Team to The Snows Stadium.
