Sylvans' production line working well

THE youth structure that has provided Sylvans with so much in recent times is at it again ahead of a new season being met with optimism at St Peter's.

Shaun Staples is at the start of his third campaign as first-team coach and since taking over the rise has been notable for the red-and-whites, who had previously spent a considerable period in the doldrums.

A third-placed finish in his debut 2011-12 campaign preceded a drop-off in league form during 2012-13, but still ended satisfactorily by lifting the Stranger Cup in April.

The two-goal hero of that final win over Vale Rec, striker Euan Melrose, is now the club's captain and he will lead out a team who are boosted by the return of Wayne Bishop.

He will give the Westerners an extra goal threat once he recovers from injury, but it is the club's talented teenagers who are really exciting Staples.

This crop comes five years after a number of the under-18 title-winning side went on to make up the spine of their current Priaulx XI.

'I will probably have 20 players to choose from for each match we play and that is a really healthy position to be in,' Staples said.