Academy & U21s

[KentExile]

Former U21 Lenni Cirino signed for Gillingham yesterday. 

Cirino had been at Clitheroe last year, which seemed a very low level for him based on what I had seen of him in the past

Edited Tuesday at 06:39 by KentExile

[philipl]

2 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Former U21 Lenni Cirino signed for Gillingham yesterday. 

Wonder if Gilsenan put in a word?

Cirino had been at Clitheroe last year, which seemed a very low level for him based on what I had seen of him in the past

Agreed- I thought Cirino looked a great prospect from the limited coverage I saw of him.

Gareth Ainsworth is the Gills boss now.

He could have two far above L2 gems if he they can keep injury free.

[KentExile]

15 minutes ago, philipl said:

Agreed- I thought Cirino looked a great prospect from the limited coverage I saw of him.

Gareth Ainsworth is the Gills boss now.

He could have two far above L2 gems if he they can keep injury free.

Senior moment from me there. 😉 

I got Grimsby and Gillingham mixed up, Gilsenan is at Grimsby, Cirino at Gillingham with Ainsworth & Dack

Edited Tuesday at 06:57 by KentExile

[arbitro]

28 minutes ago, KentExile said:

Former U21 Lenni Cirino signed for Gillingham yesterday. 

Cirino had been at Clitheroe last year, which seemed a very low level for him based on what I had seen of him in the past

He could make his league debut at Accrington on Saturday.

[KentExile]

I am assuming that this is from the U21 friendly v Barnsley yesterday

Apparently Pears & Buckley played, Leonard scored 2 and got an assist, & Rovers won 3-0

 

Edited yesterday at 07:37 by KentExile

[philipl]

Good that Harry's back but will have to take his word for it from that animated postage stamp.

[KentExile]

Not sure what age groups these are,  pictures look like either U16s, U15s, U14s maybe. 

Rovers have 2 teams participating at 2 age groups (junior & minor - whatever they equate to)

https://supercupni.com/team/blackburn-rovers/

From the above link, it looks like they have played a few games, can only see one match report though, from a 4-1 win against Crewe earlier this week

Edited 23 hours ago by KentExile

[KentExile]

Mach reports

U21s 3 - 0 Barnsley U21s - Leonard with 2, Boggan with the other, Pears, Duru & Buckley also played

U18s 1 - 0 Crewe U18s - Higgins started & scored, Wilkinson (the guy from Accrington) played

Edited 20 hours ago by KentExile

[philipl]

I see Rovers have drawn Morecambe in the first game of Group A of the National League Cup.

Or maybe not...

 

[Hasta]

21 minutes ago, philipl said:

I see Rovers have drawn Morecambe in the first game of Group A of the National League Cup.

Or maybe not...

 

And Burnley.

Probably scheduled for 8am on a Monday behind closed doors. 

[KentExile]

2 minutes ago, Hasta said:

And Burnley.

Probably scheduled for 8am on a Monday behind closed doors. 

In National League cup games, academy teams only play National League teams, not other academy teams, at least during the league stage

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/july/15/rovers-learn-national-league-cup-opponents/

Edited 19 hours ago by KentExile

[Hasta]

1 hour ago, KentExile said:

In National League cup games, academy teams only play National League teams, not other academy teams, at least during the league stage

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2025/july/15/rovers-learn-national-league-cup-opponents/

Bizarre competition.

You'll be telling me next we don't get than much-desired trip to Wembley if we got to the final.

 

Edited 17 hours ago by Hasta

[bluebruce]

7 hours ago, philipl said:

Good that Harry's back but will have to take his word for it from that animated postage stamp.

If you watch it on fullscreen on a laptop (and maybe zoom in), you can see him scoring a belter from just past the halfway line. Keeper wasn't even that far off his line, and probably should have done better tbf, but there are some top players who've failed to hit the target from that distance their whole careers. Kane has tried it a lot and I think only scored one or two.

What amused me was the complete lack of reaction from the coaches on the sideline. I think it's the opposition's coaches, but still, you'd think nothing had happened at all.

[rigger]

2 hours ago, bluebruce said:

If you watch it on fullscreen on a laptop (and maybe zoom in), you can see him scoring a belter from just past the halfway line. Keeper wasn't even that far off his line, and probably should have done better tbf, but there are some top players who've failed to hit the target from that distance their whole careers. Kane has tried it a lot and I think only scored one or two.

What amused me was the complete lack of reaction from the coaches on the sideline. I think it's the opposition's coaches, but still, you'd think nothing had happened at all.

I'm surprised that more teams don't try it from the kick-offs.

[Tom]

Trying to work out what kit we are wearing in that clip 

[arbitro]

12 hours ago, Tom said:

Trying to work out what kit we are wearing in that clip 

Last Saturday at Curzon Ashton the under 21's wore last season's red kit. The sub keeper, Adam Khan actually wore tracksuit bottoms from the season before.

[KentExile]

Just now, arbitro said:

Last Saturday at Curzon Ashton the under 21's wore last season's red kit. The sub keeper, Adam Khan actually wore tracksuit bottoms from the season before.

We really are tinpot these days aren't we?

[JPTSwindon]

Great to see Leonard in the goals for the U21's!

[Mattyblue]

1 hour ago, KentExile said:

We really are tinpot these days aren't we?

Whoa, hang on. Look what the women’s first team still get, not sure what all the drama’s been about:

All players chosen to play for the club will receive official 25/26 Blackburn Rovers training, travel and match day kit.