Rovers’ message is that the Academy is only going to play a greater part in the club’s future after reaching another milestone at the weekend.

The inclusion of five homegrown players means it is now 600 consecutive league matches that Rovers have included at least one Academy graduate in their matchday squad.

Four of the last six club captains have come through the ranks, with Lewis Travis now wearing the armband, as the Academy continues to play an increasing role in the club’s present, but also future.

Director of football Gregg Broughton outlined upon his appointment that would be the case, and with the club’s owners having committed to funding Category One status for a further three years, head of Academy Stuart Jones is optimistic about the future.

He said: “I think it’s massively important.

“From speaking to Gregg and understanding the demands of the owners and being Category One, it’s important that we work hard every day to produce the next batch and that brings a challenge.

“I think we’ve got an environment, a culture, good staff in the building, that understand the long-term vision of the Academy is to produce players and we’ll continue to do that.”

  • The achievement of reaching 600 consecutive league games with an Academy graduate in the squad is one the players, families and coaching staff should all be proud of.

That’s the verdict of head of Academy Stuart Jones whose remit is to ensure that Rovers continue to produce players at the rate they have since the run started in January 2009.

The make-up of the current squad, and prospects on the fringes of the first-team, will see the run continue for some time yet, with Jones keen to detail the amount of work that goes into each player before they make their senior debut.

He said: “I think us as staff at the Academy, it’s such a proud moment with the amount of work and time we’ve invested in these young players on their journeys.

“It’s not just smooth, there’s a lot of ups and downs and there’s a lot of support for those players.

“So when we see one of our own running out at Ewood and making their debut, it’s such a proud moment for all of the staff and it’s terrific to see.”

“Over the number of years there’s been a lot of work goes in terms of the development of those players and there’s a lot of people involved in that process.

“There’s a lot of detail in what goes into their development but ultimately it’s the recognition that we get for all of that hard work over a vast number of years.

“It’s a proud moment for all.”

Rovers maintaining Category One Academy status, the highest possible ranking, has been vital in Jones’ eyes to the production line.

“It’s massively important and even more so as we move forward,” he explained.

“We have really supportive owners who have backed the Academy which is really important.

“It helps us with our recruitment and bringing in players which is all part of the process.

“As I’ve said before it’s the games programme and the challenges that brings to young players about playing against some of the best talent in the country.

“It’s really important as we move forward that we continue to do that.

“We’ve just being awarded another three years licence which was terrific for us, the challenges of that are getting more difficult which each audit that passes.

“I’m sure the next few years we continue that hard work and we can push forward.”

The challenges of that since the PGAAC (Professional Game Academy Audit Company) have come in alongside the Premier League to carry out the audits has grown, with three clubs losing their status over the summer to leave just 25 clubs as Category One.

While some players, such as John Buckley and Adam Wharton, have come right the way through the Academy age groups, others, such as captain Lewis Travis, have arrived after leaving other clubs.

Jones says the club’s pathway and current Academy graduate streak is the perfect selling point when it comes to the competitive world of recruitment.

He added: “The start of this season we’ve had inductions with all of the schoolboy age groups and part of those conversations and presentations are about the pathway.

“These boys that have gone in, Ash, Adam, Jake Batty, and they’re in there with Trav, John Buckley, they inspire the next generation of players coming through the system so it’s massively important that schoolboy players and their parents understand there’s a real pathway at this football club.

“The 600 games is recognition of that.”

Jones is also keen to praise the managers at first-team level who have been willing to give graduates their opportunities.

“In terms of a Category status and the environment and culture we have created in the Academy, that backed up with the pathway, it’s a really good place for young players to come and develop,” he said.

“They will get opportunities and the environment we’ve created around that, it’s key that we continue to do that and parents buy into that which is terrific.”

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