Magpies youngsters handed a chance to shine at first-team level

After the 2020/21 campaign was brought to an unsatisfactory premature end in February, the boss’s thoughts have now turned towards the start of next season.

Although nothing is for certain during these present times due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the club is hopeful that football will have returned to some kind of normality by fans being allowed back inside Victory Park and the prospect of next season being played to a conclusion.

However, the start of next season is more than four months away and considering the Magpies will have not kicked a competitive ball in anger since the middle of February, Vermiglio and his assistant Andy Preece have continued to organise friendly fixtures.

The Magpies have played matches against the academy sides of Salford City, Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City.

Old foes Stockport County – of the National League – brought a side to Victory Park last month and on Wednesday, Chorley travelled to North West Counties outfit Warrington Rylands, who still have an interest in the FA Vase and face Shildon in the fourth round of the competition on April 17.

While many of the Magpies regulars from their first-team squad have been handed run-outs during these games, Vermiglio has taken the opportunity to blood some young talent – with players who have come through the club’s BTEC education programme also getting a chance to shine.

The Chorley boss has also run the rule over a number of trialists as he begins the process of formulating his squad for next season.

“We have arranged some friendlies and we have got the players coming in for training once a week,” said Vermiglio.

“We just plan to keep ticking over and try to prepare a little bit for next season where we will be making some decisions on players and using this as a real good opportunity to develop the pathway from the BTEC programme to the Under-21s.

“Some of the Under-21s are signed on for us and are actually classed as first-team players. So they have been with us a bit more over the last few weeks and we hope to see more of them.”

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