Young Terrier on immediate progression with Town’s Under-17s
- U17 Captain Ben Midgley on learning to play different roles
- Youngster on the impact of Coach Jon Worthington
- Young Terriers to face Mansfield Town on Saturday
Young Huddersfield Town midfielder Ben Midgley believes his own game is already progressing since he joined the Club’s Under-17 side.
Ben, who was born in Mirfield, joined Town in summer having previously played for Blackburn Rovers.
Like his teammates, Ben was completely new to his surroundings at PPG Canalside and had to adapt to a new style of play and identity.
The youngster explained how working on the new style helped to bring the group as they’d never met before the summer.
“We spent time getting to know each other on and off the pitch.
“At the start we were working on a motion theme, so getting in people’s faces and I think that worked to bring us together more on the pitch; it brought more out of our games.
“Ever since then we’ve got on really well.”
Alongside learning a new style, Ben has also been challenged to work on different parts of his game.
He’s been working closely with U17 Coach Jon Worthington and explained how that’s benefitted him already.
“Jon (Worthington) has been here a while, he knows the identity of this Club and he’s helped us understand it more. Me and Jon get on really well and he’s brought a different side out to me.
“I came in as a number six and he’s taught me how to play the number eight role as well. I’ve been getting up the pitch more, working on half turns and trying to be more effective in that role.”
As the personal and team development continues, Ben and his teammates have also been competing in the U18 Youth Alliance League.
During those games they put what they’ve been working on in training into practice, whilst testing themselves physically against older players.
The Mirfield-born midfielder detailed how that’s been going so far.
“At the start it was quite hard because we’d never played together.
“The first few games were tough, but as we got into it, we’ve been doing more technical things and since then it’s become a little bit easier for us.
“We’ve been playing well together and winning a couple of games.”
Since the start of the season, some of the Under-18 players have been playing with the Under-17 group.
The 16-year-old revealed how that’s helped the summer’s new recruits and gives them an idea of where they need to be in a year’s time.
“The games have been quite hard, but we’ve been doing well and progressing, so it’s better for us. Having a few Under-18s playing down has brought more physicality to our side.
“I look at the likes of Josh (Austerfield) because that’s where I want to be when I’m at that age, so it helps playing alongside the older players and learning from them.”
Ben was handed the Captain’s armband by Jon Worthington and explained how much that meant to him.
“From being a Town fan from the age of one, it’s nice to wear the armband and to have the trust of Worthy (Jon Worthington).”
Town’s Under-17s will take on Mansfield Town on Saturday in the U18 Youth Alliance League.
The match will take place at PPG Canalside and will kick-off at 11.30am. Huddersfield Town supporters can watch the game.
