Fleetwood Town's Under-18s head coach Mark Yeates sat down with the club ahead of the new Under-18s Professional Development League opener at Poolfoot Farm.
With the Academy now at Category Two, the Under-18s are entering the unknown with a new league and new set up, and it's time for the season to begin with Watford being the first team to visit Poolfoot Farm this campaign.
Yeates' side have had a strong end to pre-season, with a 3-0 win over TNS in their last match and then an 8-0 victory in the game before, so there's optomism aroujnd the camp with the first match less than 24 hours away.
Here are they key points from Yeates interview, with the full version available to watch on iFollow:
On Watford...
"I am looking forward to the new season. I have just got back off the AYA course with Charlie Daniels who used to be at Watford and now with Tom Cleverley as the new Under-18s coach, they will be coming here organised and hungry to get the win on the opening day.
"They will want to make an impression just like our lads will be, but we are going into a new Category league and it's important that we are us and we represent the badge and the club and play the way we can.
"We will be wanting to attack Watford on Saturday. I want to see us get at teams this season and try and make an impression at the top end of the pitch."
On pre-season...
"Against TNS, they started off the best in the opening 15 minutes and it was only after that where we got into our stride. We got some of our important players on the ball and managed to score through Dom Richmond and then we grew into that.
"With changes made at half-time, and a change in system, the intensity changed and it was great to see what we had worked on come through on the pitch - we could have been better in possession but overall very pleasing."
On Mikey Lane and his opportunities...
"Since Mikey has come into the building as a scholar, he's such an infectious fella and he has that bit about him with the coaches without crossing the line.
"We know as coaches that when he crosses the white line onto the pitch, he's going to give us 100% and his work rate is very noticeable.
"He loves competing and he's deserved his opportunities over the last 6 months. Mikey was our top goal scorer last season as an Under-16 with 16 goals, and that was seen by the gaffer [Scott Brown] and he was on the bench for the FA Cup game against Burnley.
"Mikey is representing the club well and he thrives on scoring goals. I know he will be chomping at the bit to play on Saturday and to hopefully get us over the line with three points."
Mark Yeates and his Fleetwood Town Under-18s side are playing their league opener at Poolfoot Farm on Saturday 19 August with kick-off at 11am. If you want to know the full details, you can click HERE to read the match preview.