Who Fitz the mould? Why FA Youth Cup is so vital for Millwall

Most professional footballers are going to lose a game eventually – so it is as well to go through the experience early on.
Defeats have been rare for Millwall recently though, both in the first team and the U18s. So the FA Youth Cup game at Bournemouth on Tuesday will be a big test for Scott Fitzgerald’s academy boys.
The Lions youngsters will be trying to get into the last eight of the knockout – with a game close enough and big enough to possibly attract a big away following.
It will be some supporters’ first chance to have a proper look at the next generation of Den stars under the floodlights and in front of a crowd.
It will also be a good test of the club’s football academy against Premier League rivals.
Millwall’s academy has been a perennial source of talent going back decades and that has continued under Fitzgerald, who’s now been at the club for 13 years.
He has worked under seven different managers – a remarkably low number for that length of tenure.
John Berylson’s club are very lucky to have such a stable influence over it’s youngsters for such a long time – South London rivals Fulham in 2006 tried and failed to poach the former Millwall and Brentford centre-back.
Fitzgerald is demanding of the players, all his staff – and himself.
“We had an academy before me and there will be one long after I’ve gone as well,” he said.
“But the people I work for and with make this job the best one there is. That hasn’t changed even when the staff have changed”
“We’ve had different managers and a different chief executive and different academy staff – but they all have the same feeling for this club.
“Everyone one is so hard-working – not just the coaches and players but all the way to the cleaner – they all go that extra yard. I like to get value for money out of everyone – we are working in the same direction and here we are all close.”
He looks to have found another nugget in midfielder Billy Mitchell – the 18-year old has made three cup starts, the latest in last Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United.
He has been training around the first team this season. “He has taken his chance to impress,” said Fitzgerald. “He’s been doing that, so the manager’s kept him in the squad every week.
“There is no one route to getting into the first team – sometimes you just have the right number. For example the manager might need a full-back to fill in and he impresses. It could be someone who has called the eye in the U23s, who have a lot of interaction with the first team.
“You have to show the right attitude – but you would not be at this club without that. You also have the full requirements of technical, tactical, physical and psychological qualities which make a Millwall player. And you have to take the bull by the horns.
“I don’t know what other clubs look for. I feel like we need somebody who works hard – but that is not enough.
“We want players with real skill who can take on defenders, tackle, header and have a bit of everything. But especially, you have to have a burning desire to win.”
The Millwall U18s’ journey in the cup started in the third round with a 7-0 victory at Bolton. Yes – you read that correctly: a 7-0 away win.
Fitzgerald said: “It was just a really good performance. We played in the main stadium on a beautiful pitch. We have scored a lot of goals this season. To beat a club in the same category as us was really pleasing.”
The next round, at The Den, was not so easy. Fleetwood went 1-0 up and one of Fitzgerald’s boys was sent off. But they came back and eventually won the tie 3-1.
Fitzgerald said: “We scraped through. At Bolton, we had hotel rooms and the whole day was structured. But at home, they are left to their own devices so you don’t know what happens during the day before the game. They are surrounded by family and friends and agents.
“They showed tremendous character in the end. Maybe there was some complacency after the Bolton win. But the cup is all about getting through.”
Tuesday’s result will tell Fitzgerald a lot about his charges. But they are assessed over the season – that will decide whether they get contracts or not for next season.
“That is good for players,” he said. “It is the same every year around April. It is on their minds but they’re in the business and that is what it’s like – so they need to get used to it.
“I don’t like letting people go but is part of the job and an honest reflection of whether we think players will make it. It is like that in every business.”
Millwall have two current stars who have shown teenagers the way -Ben Thompson and Aidan O’Brien both came up through the ranks.
Fitzgerald said; “Aidan has already played over 200 games for this club and had seven loans. He came to us as a 12-year old and really worked hard. He loves being a footballer – you have to have that if you want to succeed.
“Ben was just a really good person from the moment he came into the club. From the age of 15, he’s been training like it is his last day. Every game he plays like it is his last game. He gives everything he’s got every single time.
“He’s a Millwall supporter. But even when he went on loan to Portsmouth, he played like he was a Pompey supporter – like that club was in his blood. He is a great example to all young people.
“Ultimately you can’t replicate playing in the first team even with development days and some loans. You do not know until the player steps out on to the pitch at The Den. But we like to think that by the time they do, we have given them the right platform.”
The senior players in the first team are also important.
Fitzgerald said: “They know what it is like – they were young once. We have a really nice group of players who are brilliant with youngsters.
“Alex Pearce – a really good bloke and professional. Jake Cooper may be younger but has a decent number of games under his belt. Jed Wallace is excellent with them and Shaun Williams knows all about this club. Mahlon Romeo is another one of a really good guys.
“There are no cliques at this club everyone helps everyone.”