As my reader(!) will know I am the eternal optimist, but as we start a brand new campaign I genuinely believe very strongly that Northampton Town can look ahead with a great deal of confidence - not because of the ground development that must surely come but because it has a youth system that is backed right from the top and is paying rich dividends.

While the Northamptonshire Cricket Club is being criticised for not giving home-grown talent a chance, the Cobblers have no fewer than six youth system products as full time professionals. That includes both goalkeepers Mark Bunn and Chris Dunn, central defender Liam Dolman, Alex Dyer, Ritchie Jones and Greg Taylor.

In recent times the sale of Luke Chambers to Nottingham Forest and Brad Johnson to Leeds United - both of them young talents nurtured at Sixfields - has been of real importance to the club.

Towards the end of last season I was dismayed to hear that Head of Youth Geoff Harrop, the man who has worked with huge enthusiasm for the past two years to forge the whole system, was set to accept an offer from Peterborough United. He changed his mind and as we go into the new season I have been to find out exactly why.

"There were a number of factors," says Geoff,"not least because it is tremendous to work with a manager (Stuart Gray) who believes in youth, backs our system and has shown clearly that he will give young players a chance. But then there was the attitude of the parents, and that was a huge influence. Last season, when it was known I was going we took the 13 and 14-year olds on a trip to Barcelona and so many of those who came along with the boys made it clear they wanted me to stay.

"Over the past two years the parents have been absolutely fantastic. In a way they are the hub of the club with their support both financially and in the way they travel long distances to support us. Of course they are supporting their sons but the club as well, and that runs right through to the first team. There is a togetherness here the like of which I have not experienced before and it is not in just one age group but all the way through.

"Then I talked to some of my coaches, men of vast experience like Trevor Gould and Eddie McGoldrick, and they convinced me that we have something unique here. It has just started and I want to see it through. The Chairman is keen and the Gaffer and first team coaches Ian Sampson and Jim Barron are terrific. In the end I just had to stay."

So,is Geoff's confidence justified? Does he have a youth conveyor belt in place - something vital in any production line? The way he outlines it, I reckon he does.

"The Centre of Excellence starts with the eights and nines," he explains,"but this year we are putting in place a clear pathway for all youngsters in the area that can lead clear through to the first team - and let's face it only a few will get that far. The presence of no fewer than six of our own prospects as full time pros shows it can be done.

"That path has been created by the introduction of development centres run by Football in the Community leading on to advanced and elite centres all under the control of Jon Brady. Kids can come for fun but can also move up and down the ladder dependent on ability. There are development and skill centres at Daventry, Lings and in Northampton and Jon also has centres at Milton Keynes, Northampton School for Boys and Wellingborough."

The Centre of Excellence operates at NSB and Moulton College with the boys training on Tuesday and Thursday and then playing their matches on Sunday. They face age-group opposition from other pro clubs, some as far away as Brighton, Colchester and Millwall.

This season Sean Parrish continues to coach the Under-18s in the Puma South East Alliance and Geoff stresses: "We are looking to better last season`s performance of fifth place. We play our home matches at Moulton and all of them are on Saturday mornings. And, yes, I do think we have plenty of fresh talent coming along."

There are experienced coaches working with all the age groups and this season that includes Eddie McGoldrick working with the under-16s while Trevor Gould concentrates development across all the groups. Former Cobblers hero and skipper Ray Warburton will look after the under-12s.

Geoff tells me this has been a great pre-season for all the boys - right through all the Centre`s age groups. "The opposition has included Premier clubs like Reading, West Ham and even Chelsea," he says, "and that is for all the age sections. It is so important to play clubs of that type. Our boys can judge themselves against boys who are possible Premier League players in the future.

"I feel we are making real progress and I have some great people working with me. In a youth department you have to have a certain type of coach - people who can nourish talent, do not expect quick results and realise it is a long-term process. That is exactly what I have."