FOREST Green Academy squad have been crowned South West Counties Youth League champions for a third consecutive season.

Scott Bartlett’s fledglings earned a 3-1 win over the Bristol Academy to claim the title and his team are now proudly ranked alongside the likes of Exeter City, Newport County, Swansea City and Plymouth Argyle in having lifted the prestigious U18s trophy.

It was the Academy’s ninth win in 11 games. Rovers’ side included first team squad players Lou McGrory and Aden Baldwin. A Jack Richardson brace and a goal from Will Hayward saw Rovers home.

Bartlett, a current UEFA B coach and former Salisbury City captain and Forest Green defender, oversaw a total revamp of the youth system at the club in 2012, and the full-time Academy in partnership with South Gloucestershire & Stroud College has benefited enormously.

He said: “The work that goes on behind the scenes would frighten a lot of people, we have some fantastic people within our youth system.

“A youth project like ours is run on a shoestring budget, there is no FA funding available so essentially the project is self-funded and reliant on achievement of Academic qualifications. It’s a win-win situation for FGR, SGS College and more importantly the players.

“Everything we do is all about long term planning and building bit by bit by establishing partners and relationships, we need to grow in tandem with the main club and already have plans in place should we reach the Football League.

“I’d like to thank Dale Vince and Kevin Hamblin (SGS principle) for believing in my plan. Our success and the profile of the Club means our recruitment has got better each year and I believe we are very close, if not ready for the Football League should the opportunity arise.”

The season isn’t over just yet and more hard work lies ahead, Bartlett is planning to begin his UEFA A Licence in the summer and his squad are still competing in the Gary Else Memorial League Cup, the Junior Premier League Cup and the ECFA U19 league where qualification into a national knockout is still to play for.

After Wednedsay’s win, Bartlett added: “It’s great for the players, to win anything is difficult because everyone wants to do it, we came back to pre season training in the first week of July in preparation for the first team friendlies.

“When you consider the amount of games we have played over a long period of time its a fantastic achievement, I’m proud of our players.”