By Albatross
March 10 2004

Hartlepool United have announced that two of our youth teamers have agreed professional terms. Matty Robson and John Brackstone have both made the breakthrough to first team football and have agreed deals; however, it looks like the end may be nigh for Mark Robinson as a result. Robson turned 19 at the end of January, and had been turning heads for some time in the youth and reserve team. He made his official first team bow as Pools fielded a full reserve side at Tranmere in last season's LDV thrashing, but despite occasionally making the bench he failed to notch up any more first team appearances.

This season has been a different matter though. Cooper selected him for the first game of the season, and, playing as a wing-back, he also scored his first senior goal to make it 3-3 - a moment that was swiftly followed by his first yellow card, the referee rather harshly booking him for his celebrations. Although in and out of the side a little, he's still clocked up 20 starts this season; with Hugh Robertson having taken the left back spot, he's found himself more recently playing as a left winger, a role that possibly suits him better. He hasn't found the net since the opening day - although he has gone close, including hitting the post against Tranmere - but has certainly shown enough promise to be well worth his contract.

Brackstone is slightly younger (by a couple of weeks), and made his first appearance for the club in our 4-0 mauling by Blackpool in October; Pools were already 3-0 down when he replaced Mark Robinson at half time, and he was one of very few bright spots that day. Having played a large part during pre-season, it was something of a surprise that he'd had to wait so long for his opportunity to show his skills for the first team. He started the next four games, and got on the scoresheet in the comfortable 4-0 win over Whitby in the FA Cup first round, scoring the final goal with a curling free kick - no doubt he'll be pumping Hugh Robertson for a few tips - and has so far started six games in addition to his sole sub appearance. Regularly on the bench, he's a more defensive-minded player than Robson and follows his older brother Stephen - about to be released by York and recently on trial at Boston - into the professional ranks.

While both players have been competing for the left back slot this season, the long term future may see them both operating together, Brackstone as full back and Robson in midfield. While at the moment that would be something of a risk, with two relatively inexperienced players on the same side, in two or three years time we could well be looking at the youth team colleagues performing together in the first team.

The importance of Pools youth setup can only be strengthened by this move; we are producing players capable of moving through to the first team, even at Division 2 level, and not looking out of place for the most part. Both should continue to develop over the coming seasons, and with the likes of Craddock, Istead, Wilkinson and Foley all appearing for the first team this season, it's good news for the future of the club.

One player it isn't good news for is Mark Robinson. We now have four players capable of playing at left back on professional deals, and he seems to be the man at the end of the pecking order; something tells me that if Scarborough wanted to make their current loan deal permanent, Pools wouldn't stand in his way.

In other news, Pools are expecting a big crowd for our game against QPR on Saturday, and if you haven't already got a ticket it's probably best to get one now. With QPR having sold their entire allocation, we should be looking at another 6000+ gate - our third of the season. With our opponents struggling with injuries in defence - currently their only fit keeper is Academy player Emil Heselton, although they are looking to bring someone in on loan, left back Gino Padula also out, and the prospect of relatively untried players turning out across the back four - Pools should have a great opportunity to impress against what is still one of the division's best sides.