Joel Anker the perfect example as Banbury United manager sets out ‘helping’ environment for young players
Kelvin Langmead was thrilled with how Joel Anker responded to a surprise benching, as the Banbury United winger returned to the starting lineup with a bang against Racing Club Warwick.
Puritans boss Langmead left Anker out of the XI for the Southern League Premier Central opener away at Bishop’s Stortford before bringing the youngster back in on Tuesday night.
Langmead was rewarded with Anker’s heavy involvement in Banbury’s first goal of the 2-1 win, scored merely 24 seconds in by striker Levi Steele.
Anker’s direct dribbling down the left flank and a clever pass for the inverting left-back Finn Howell created the space for the cross Steele went on to convert.
“When you make those decisions, you’re looking for reactions from players; you want to see how they respond, and not just on the pitch, off it,” Langmead told the Banbury Guardian.
“Joel was brilliant and lightning for the first goal tonight. He’s going to be a threat, he’s a really talented boy.
“There’s stuff he needs to learn and stuff he can get better at, but that's what we want to do. We want to help and guide him to get the best out of him at Banbury.”
Since Langmead took over last summer, there has been a gradual progression to utilising young players more often. The hope is to benefit all parties with a hunger and desire to improve.
“We recruit in a certain way,” Langmead explained. “It’s as much about the character of the people we bring as it is the footballer.
“That’s because what goes on in the changing room is really important, that togetherness. On some occasions you find yourself in a dressing room where you don’t have that.
“Having a good dressing room can get you points sometimes, so we wanted to get the right type in, lads who want to progress still and aren’t just comfortable playing Step 3.
“I love working with young lads, I love trying to help them be better. That’s what we do as a football club, it’s part of what we’re about.”
Anker definitely isn’t the only young player benefiting from Langmead’s management, with the likes of Max Fuller and Sebastian Kola enjoying breakthroughs last season.
Meanwhile, defender Harrison Mole was recruited in the summer. Then there’s Otis Castle on dual registration with Kidlington, Finn Howell on loan from Solihull Moors and Jacob Scott from Boston United.
Delving deeper into creating an ideal environment for youngsters, Langmead added: “I’ve been in the game a long, long time and I want to see players do well.
“I want to see players progress and sometimes they have to do things they don’t want to do. Sometimes they have to take a telling-off but it’s to help them, as is everything we do here.
“And that’s not just me, it’s the whole football club to give these lads the best opportunity to be the best versions of themselves.”
Langmead hopes talent factory Banbury can have a successful season and confidence is high following the win over RC Warwick.