As Chesterfield's youth team prepare for the forthcoming Youth Alliance league campaign, which is due to commence on Saturday 15th August, many will be marking this day as their first league appearance in a Spireite shirt.

With last year's key players, such as Jordan Bowery, Matt Malak and Richie Holmes all missing, due to their two year scholarship scheme ending, youth team manager Dave Bentley and assistant Mark Jules welcome eight new faces into the Chesterfield set up.

One of those faces is 16 year old striker Josh Wright, who comes into squad as one of three attacking first year forwards.  After spending a couple of years within the Derby County Academy under the watchful eyes of Brian Burrows, who has assisted the first team on previous occasions, Wright held a personal best of 12 goals in 17 appearances at academy level, not a patch on the 34 goals in 14 appearances that the striker holds at a previous club.

Josh Wright

After being released by the Rams at the end of 2008 and undertaking numerous trials with different clubs, it was fitness coach Shane Nicholson that informed Chesterfield of Wright's presence. Dave Bentley and Mark Jules awarded Wright, who was then 15, a trial at Saltergate and immediately spotted the potential talent within the youngster.

Fitness coach Shane Nicholson

After last season's deadly strike partnership of Adam Smith and Jordan Bowery, who between them produced 26 goals, the new scholars have a challenging season a head of them; "They're both very good players and hopefully if I can work hard in training and keep improving, then I can step up to the standards they've left from last season."

The daunting task of trying to repeat last season's league glory doesn't phase the youngster, who compares his style of play to that of Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe and has his sights set on making it at rollover year for the Spireites.

"The squad is full of quality players, most of which contributed to winning the league last season, which makes us confident that with their experience and talent we can make a good challenge to win it again."

Youth team squad 2009-10

Despite the pacey striker's enthusiasm, his feet are firmly on the ground and realises that making the starting 11 on a regular basis isn't a straight forward task, especially with Jordan Burrow and Ben Watkis getting some useful match experience last season; "Hopefully I can train well to gain a starting place in the youth team, although I'll have to do this step by step. From this I would like to be able to consistently play well and score a decent number of goals. It will be extremely hard, but hopefully these are achievable goals."

With only a few weeks before the pre season fixtures get under way, Wright admits that things are going as planned: "To be honest we seem to be bang on schedule with our preparation. After taking part in what was probably some of the hardest runs I've ever had to complete, the whole squad's fitness seems to be at a high standard. Personally, I feel preparations are going well and now I'm just looking forward to getting out on the pitch."

Moving from one club to another can not always be a straight forward affair, but it seems 'Wrighty' - as he's known to his team mates - has settled in easily at Saltergate; "The older lads have made it quite easy, with a bit of banter in the changing room and doing jobs around the club. I'm one of them now."

With clubs, players and fans still waiting for the upcoming fixtures to be finalised, Wright is already looking forward to a few in particular; "I've got a few mates at Notts County, Mansfield and Burton, so I'm looking forward to those games for that bit of rivalry,"

"I'm also looking forward to playing Hull City, as I've heard they've got a really strong squad and I look forward to the challenge."

In recent years, Chesterfield have opted to sign attacking players from their youth team, with the likes of Adam Smith, Jamie Jackson and recently Jordan Bowery all receiving professional contracts at the club.

With this in mind, Wright said "It is an incentive that a good two years could end with a professional contract, but I know I'll have to work hard, improve and do well consistently as I'm sure previous players have had to do to earn a pro contract."

Looking forward to what fans can expect in the future Wright said "I want to be a very good young prospect at the club and I aim to do well in all aspects and hopeful achieve a pro contract and some first team involvement."

Article by Adam Hulme, the Spireites new youth team reporter