The following is a review of the 2025/26 season for our U21s side, from Matt Tennant…
What a year it has been.
A squad mixed with original talent and fresh faces came together, with dreams of taking their football to the next level.
Finishing third in their first season last year, all eyes were on Bromsgrove to see if they could go even further, in a bigger and better league competition.
It’s been a rollercoaster of a journey, with resilience tested and passion in abundance.
A Tricky Start
As the team entered another year full of excitement and anticipation, they were quickly confronted with a difficult start to the season.
Bromsgrove kicked off their campaign with two defeats away from home and missed out by the skin of their teeth in their first home game against a formidable Boldmere St Michaels.
The team made improvements, but appeared to lack confidence and precision in their approach, resulting in the trio of opening losses.
The product on the pitch was struggling as the team were in the bottom three. For the first time in their short history, the U21s team were facing a performance crisis and were under pressure to deliver.
“I think we were victims of our own success following the first season,” said Under 21s joint-manager, Stuart Carson.
“Players excelling at this level were taken by Step 4/5 clubs – it’s been interesting to see how the lads have progressed, with some doing well and others moving during the season.
“So, the start of the season meant nearly half a new group and we were pleased with the lads we brought in. Our pre-season went well but, unfortunately, this didn’t transfer into results during the first month.”
Steady Improvements
Desperate to turn things around, the managers, coaches and players worked relentlessly to review plays from the week before, initiate more intense drills and help the players maximise their individual strengths.
Gradually, the team got a better understanding of each other’s roles. They began to play more fluently, enabling more effective teamwork and tactical decision making.
This lead to a sudden spike in competitiveness and Sporting began to pull in their first wins of the season.
By the time November rolled around, the Rouslers had experienced a radical overhaul.
“Thereafter we started to gel and find our feet,” Carson reflected.
“This level is unforgiving and once we found our shape and level of intensity required I thought we played some good stuff.
Two clean sheet victories by at least 3 goals and a mighty 1-4 triumph over Coalville Town Ravens away signified a huge shift in the team’s momentum.
Despite a bruising 2-5 loss to Rushall Olympic concluding a brief County Cup campaign in October, the team’s mentality was unphased and they quickly returned to winning ways to secure a hat trick of league wins which would set the tone for the remainder of their season.
Rainy Days
But just as the bite had returned, Sporting were confronted with a new problem – the Great British weather.
For over two months between November to January, the team were stuck in the mud, with a number of games postponed due to poor weather.
“A league fixture break from November to January didn’t help as we were starting to gain momentum especially at Coalville away which I thought was one of our best performances,” said Stuart Carson.
This frequent disruption continued into the new year, with torrential weather events devastating pitches throughout February.
Flying Form
Despite this, the team kept their spirits up, training as much as they could through whatever was thrown their way. While others sheltered from the rain, sleet, storms and snow, the Rouslers capitalised on the break to refine performance and maintain fitness so when the grey days passed, they were equipped to play in their best form yet.
Stuart Carson added: “The fixture break acted as a mini pre season and, to be fair to the lads, we came back firing in 2026, putting together a great run of results.”
The team were outclassing every opponent they faced, winning seven of eight league games in the second half of the season.
Bromsgrove registered a 3-2 loss against Brocton U21 in January and, with the exception of a heart-breaking Challenge Bowl defeat to Redditch United on penalties, they did not lose another match until their final game of the season, against second place Sutton United U21.
“A slip up in the cup on penalties meant it was league only until the end of the season, and we finished strong, sitting only eight points off top. We can only wonder what a good start would have done for us,” Stuart Carson pondered at the end of the season.
An impeccable run of form saw the team shoot up the table, with their unstoppable onslaught including a commanding 6-1 victory over Stourport Swifts, a 4-0 win on the road at Mercia Athletic and an incredible 4-2 triumph over last year’s winners, Stourbridge U21.
Sporting climbed as high as fifth in the table and just a handful of points behind the eventual winners Rushall Olympic U21, before finishing their season in sixth to achieve a truly exceptional comeback.
Bromsgrove Sporting’s Head of Football Operations, Iain Queen, said: “It’s been another successful year for our U21 team who continue to grow together on and off the pitch.
“Stu, Mark and Pete have put together a great bunch of lads who like to get the ball down and play. Like with any team there is always a handful of players who come and go, but it is important that they bring the right characters into the current set up and I feel they did that last year.
“The lads finished the season very strongly and put in some fantastic performances against some good teams.”
First Team Pathway
Beyond team successes on the pitch, Bromsgrove’s U21s also worked closely with the first team management to create opportunities for young players to feature in the first team, proving its role in carving effective pathways for the potential big names of the future.
Stu Carson praised the performances of U21s alumni, saying “Other notes of success for the season are getting lads into the first team and this year we have had Fin and Alemi step up, with Alemi doing great in his debut.”
Fin Carson, who signed with the first team at the end of last season, has been involved with the men’s squad, in both league games and Worcestershire Cup fixtures, alongside fellow Under 21 player, Josh Burgess.
A number of other players, including Zak Parr and George Gillon, have also been invited to train with the first team.
Alemi Obey-GM (pictured) has become the latest development talent to be called up for first team duties earlier this year, when he was subbed on in the final third of their game against Real Bedford.
The Under 21s starlet went on to deliver one of Bromsgrove’s only chances in the second half, showing how the club’s youth programmes are having a real impact on nurturing and introducing exciting prospects.
Iain Queen also celebrated the success of U21s players: “A massive congratulations to Alemi GM, who made his first team debut and performed very well in the last game of the season.
“Lots of the squad also having the opportunity to train with the first team has been important for their development.”
Coaching Opportunities
Even the coaches have stepped up this season, with Under 21s coach Pete Rose and joint-manager Stuart Carson coming in to support the first team in training during the side’s management changes.
“It was great to see Stu and Pete get involved with the first team training and coaching,” said Iain Queen, emphasising how this ‘further strengthens the link between the U21s and first team’.
Promising Future
The impressive results of Bromsgrove Sporting’s U21s have been recognised across the Midlands, with more young people becoming attracted to the club’s pathway.
“We move onto next season with mostly the same group. Some are moving away to Uni, but we are constantly being approached by players and we will be taking some into pre-season on trial,” said Stuart Carson, as he sets his sights on the next campaign.
“The pull of the club is obvious and with the new owners and plans, we look forward to contributing to future success.
“A big thanks to Tim and Leon, who have embraced the under 21s and will continue to work with us to help lads step up to train and feature with the first team.
“I would like to express our thanks to everyone who has worked with the under 21s over the season. The club, sponsors, fans and family members, who all contribute to make it a great environment for the players
“Exciting times ahead and lots of hard work in pre-season to come. Enjoy the summer and see you all for next season.”
