Hot on the heels of their first-team counterparts, the new Academy Under-18 Squad reported back for duty at Colney on Sunday afternoon.

Ricky Martin and David Williams welcomed the players to Colney and set the scene for the coming season. There was also a welcome for incoming Education Officer Darren Bloodworth, with current incumbent Danny Laws still around for the next few weeks to ensure a smooth handover. It was of course a particularly important day for the new first year scholars who also officially signed on the dotted line for the photographers with their parents in attendance. With four academy youngsters agreeing professional terms at the end of last season and Michael Spillane joining them recently, Ricky Martin has a large "intake" of nine new scholars this season from all parts of Britain and the Republic of Ireland. David Williams can now start to put them through their pre-season schedule (for matches see table below) to get the boys ready for the Academy season start on August 19th.

The new scholars with their management Back: Nigel Worthington, Ricky Martin, Mark O'Toole, Tom Miller, Luke Daley, Paul McLean, Kris Renton, David Williams, Terry Harvey (Recruitment Officer), Neil Doncaster. Front: Ross Kelly, Jordan Yong, Damon Lathrope, Kurtis Byrne.

Under-18's Pre-Season Programme 2006/07 Date Opponents Venue Kick-Off 15th July Waltham Forest Colney 11.30am 22nd July Diss Town Brewers Green Lane 3.00pm 29th July Colchester United Colney 11.00am 1st August Aarhus Denmark 6.00pm 4th August Randers Denmark   12th August Tottenham Hotspur Colney 12.00pm 21st August (U16/17) Beccles Town Meadow Lane 6.30pm

The full Academy squad lines up

We will bring you full information on the pre-season games and the build up to the league season. FONCY will of course continue to keep you up to date on all that is happening at the Academy over the coming season. (Photos and report courtesy of Paul Standley)