In a Premiership which has become dulled by its predictability, it is refreshing to see there is still a chance for the lesser lights to shine. While two of English football's `Big Four' contested the FA Youth Cup final, the traditional barometer of youth team success, it is Sunderland and Leicester who will meet this weekend in the final of the FA Premier Academy League. It is a notable success for both sets of players and a fitting reward for clubs who have invested a lot of effort in, and attached a lot of importance to, the development of their academies. For Sunderland, it is also an indication of chairman Niall Quinn's and manager Roy Keane's vow to build a football club, not just a team. The Irishmen's vision for the Black Cats is one where, at all levels, they are able to compete with the best in the country and it is up to academy manager Ged McNamee to ensure their youth teams do just that. "It's a big achievement because we came up against a very strong Manchester City side in the semi-final who ran away with their academy group," said McNamee. "It's a national competition and there are some big academies out there, so it's a big achievement for this football club. It's especially pleasing because this is an Under-18 competition, but most of our team are Under-17s. That bodes well for next season as well." McNamee has been at the Stadium of Light for eight years and, working alongside former Sunderland midfielder and caretaker manager Kevin Ball, he is starting to see the fruits of his labours in more ways than one. While a final appearance is testimony to the ability and character of the side he coaches, the former Hartlepool United player believes the academy is also capable of achieving its ultimate objective - players for the first team. "Clubs have invested in their academies and they want a return," explained McNamee. "The only way they are going to get that return is if they give the young players a chance in the first team. "It's nice for the boys that they've got to the final because it's recognition of the work they've done. To clinch the league at Manchester United is testimony to their character. But, ultimately, we get our satisfaction from seeing lads make it into the first team. That's what we need to do and we're going in the right direction. "Grant Leadbitter is a big boost to us and the lads. He has been in the first-team squad all season and he came through the academy system here. He got his chance at the end of last season when the club looked like it was going down in the Premiership. It can be hard for a manager when the club is going for promotion or fighting against relegation to give the kids a chance, but Grant got his and he has taken it. "He's a local boy and he has done extremely well. That's the ultimate aim of the youth set-up, to provide players for the first team. If we can give the gaffer one or two a season who can make the grade, we'll be very happy." Given the money that will be made available to Keane to strengthen his squad this summer, some managers would only take a passing interest in what is happening in the youth set-up. That, though, is not the case with Keane, who has made it his mission to get involved in every aspect of the football side of the club. McNamee continued: "Roy Keane and Niall Quinn want to build a football club, not just a first team. Roy has come from a Manchester United background and he has seen first-hand how one of the biggest clubs in the world has a fantastic youth system. "He knows how important that is and he wants to do the same here. It's about the club as a whole. Everything is geared to success for the first team, but you have to have a structure in place. "Roy takes a keen interest in what is happening. He'll ask me most weeks about what is going on. He's taken a few of the lads over to train with the first-team squad. "Ideally we would like a lot of the lads to play in the first team and hopefully we can do that. The success at the moment has been Grant, but we've also had the likes of Chris Brown, Kevin Kyle, George McCartney and Ben Alnwick who have moved on for decent sums of money which can be reinvested in the club. "It's probably over £3m in total. If a player isn't going to make it in the first team here, it's important they can be moved on. The academy pays for itself then." | 
