United Head of Youth Eric Kinder spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria on Friday after the awarding of four one-year professional contracts to his second-year YTS players Mark Beck, Brad Potts, Dave Symington and Josh Todd :
"When you are sat there and you are nervous and you see one of your youth team players (Mark Beck) make his debut when he came on against Charlton, I am probably panicking more than him. But, the lad did himself justice and the manager (Greg Abbott) and Kav (Graham Kavanagh) are absolutely delighted with him, and even though he has had his probably only ten minutes against Charlton and his five minutes against Stevenage they are absolutely delighted with him.
"If you had seen Mark Beck twelve months ago and somebody had said to me that he will make his debut before the end of his youth team contract, then I would have said that they need to go and see a doctor. Because, the development in him has been incredible and that gives him a chance. The first years and everybody else coming into clubs should look at that and never give up, because he certainly hasn't given up and it has ended up being an absolutely fantastic season, not only for him but for the other three as well.
"I have been here six years now and this is the best group I have had since the (Gary) Madine and (Tom) Aldred group of about five of years ago. We had individuals, like Gary was an individual in a decent side, but it was a decent side, there weren't enough individuals in it who I thought could come through.
"Josh and Brad Potts have been absolutely outstanding this season at youth level, I mean every single game I am coming off the pitch and saying they are the best players on the pitch, they are the best players on the pitch. They have improved so much this year, they have got energy, Potts's range of passing is incredible, Todd has got this box-to-box energy that he has and he is aggressive and he is strong with people.
"David, you just don't know what you are going to get from him, one day he frustrates the life out of you and the next day he wins you a game with incredible goals. I mean I think you have seen it for yourself in Cumberland Cup games and youth games when you have covered them, he is capable of striking a ball from any distance with a magnificent technique. He is strong, and he is powerful and he is quick, David just gets a bit flustered at times in the heat of a game. But, as he gets older I am sure he will learn to handle that one.
"But, Todd and Potts have been absolutely outstanding for me. So, I am more confident than ever that we have not only got two or three through this year, but two or three will go on and actually make their debuts and play for the first team for a couple of years in years to come. I am absolutely delighted with the outcome, you always feel sorry every year for the ones that don't make it, but you are never going to get a clean sweep, we all know that. But, to get four through to professional ranks and give them a chance of a career in the game is absolutely wonderful, and I am absolutely delighted for them."