Our partner club Prestwich Heys recently launched an under-21s team, that includes some ex-Marauders.

It is free to go and watch the team at Heys' Adie Moran ground, with home games usually kicking off at 2pm on Sundays, so get along and cheer on our local lads as they embark on their debut campaign in the North West U21 Development League Division A.

The team play Chadderton this Sunday (7 September).

Heys' Paul Thomason had a chat with under-21s manager Dan Gadsby to get his thoughts on the season ahead and the importance of the new team...

What are you hoping to get out of this first season with the lads?
We’re looking to help the lads progress; that’s the main focus. It’s about developing them and preparing them to make that step up to first-team standard. If by the end of the season we’ve seen improvement in their game and a few are knocking on the door for senior opportunities, then we’ve done our job.

Is this season more about winning games or developing players for the future?
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t care about winning games, if you don’t want to win football matches, you’re at the wrong club. But the bigger picture is about the lads development. The main goal is to prepare them for the future, so if we can develop players while building a winning mentality along the way, then we’re in a great place

With the Heys partnership with Prestwich Marauders, will you be keeping in close contact with them and keeping an eye on the progress of their players?
Definitely, we’ll stay in close contact with Prestwich Marauders and keep an eye on their players. It’s all about building that pathway and making sure talented lads get their chance to step up.

What excites you most about being in charge of this team?
I’ve worked with a lot of this squad over the past couple of years, so I know how much talent there is in the group. What excites me most is seeing how far they can go, both as individuals and together as a team.

And finally, for you, what would make this season feel like a success?
Success for me would be seeing the lads develop and grow as players, with a few pushing for first-team opportunities. If we see that, then we know we’re on the right track.

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