THE future is certainly bright at Concord Rangers.

The club, whose first team plays in the National League South, has a proud tradition of nurturing talent from its numerous youth groups.

Jed Smith and Adam Topley are just two players making strides in the first-team squad, with former manager Adam Flanagan keen to blood the Beach Boys’ next generation of players.

And the conveyor belt of talent is continuing to produce trophies all the way down to the under-13 team - the youngsters enjoying a stellar season under the guidance of Darron Polyblank and Jay Hockey.

The under-13s won the Essex County Cup, Eastern Junior Alliance League Cup and topped the EJA league standings to complete the treble.

There was also silverware for the under-16s having won the EJA London League and the under-18s.

The under-18 team won a league and cup double in the oldest age group - their county cup win being their fourth in succession.

And Phil Crowe, who helps promote youth football at the club, said it had been a year to remember.

“What the boys have done this year has been incredible,” said Crowe. “The whole set up is as close to an academy as we can get.

“We have strong ties to South Essex College and anyone aged 16 to 19 can get involved with the academy.

“We want to get these boys through the system and they are doing so well.

“There is as much satisfaction as seeing these guys coming through as signing a big name player as they are able to make the step up.”

“Over the last two years we have had six guys play for the first team and 13 play first team football.

“Six have been invited to play with first team squad next season and those under-18s who have not we are actively helping to find senior football.”

Mark Collins and Steve Sullivan helped the under-18s and under-16s respectively to more success this season, the latter the first team not in a London borough to win the EJA London League.

There was a final appearance for the under-15s, defeated by AFC Hornchurch, and the under-14s, despite a bad start, went on a long unbeaten run.

And with former joint first team manager Danny Scopes returning to help the under-15s next season, there is every chance of more days in the sun to come.