Tuesday 6 March and as Brentford are set to host West London neighbours Fulham on a chilly night at the Gtech Community Stadium, over 1,000 miles south on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, the B team are in the Algarve preparing for their second fixture in Portugal. The aim? To continue to test our young players in senior environments to best prepare them to step into the men’s game, whether that be so they can become a part of more special nights at the Gtech, or so they can carve themselves a career in the game elsewhere.

The young Bees have just finished their morning session and, unusually, the first job after training is to get dry! Early spring in the Algarve isn’t quite the constant sunshine one may expect as the rain has battered the shores of Vale de Lobo near to where the side are staying over the past couple of days. Lunch has been eaten and there is a positive mood in the camp- despite the weather.

For B team assistant coach Sam Saunders the trips abroad to play high level fixtures are some of the highlights of the project. So far this season the young Bees have had tests in Italy, Monaco, the Netherlands as well as two trips to Portugal to challenge the group.

“We’re back on tour, like we were in the first year, but through Covid we didn’t have them for a while so to have them back and play different fixtures, lots of men’s teams, different nationalities always keeps it fresh,” explains Sam as he takes a seat under shelter from the downpour.

He’s now in his fourth season working with the B team alongside Neil MacFarlane. Since then he’s been able to play a role in the set up to help the likes of Mads Roerslev, Fin Stevens and Nathan Young-Coombes to first team debuts- to name just a few. Even since taking the job ahead of the 2019/20 season the club has changed drastically. There is a new league, a new training centre and lots more talent arriving through the door in terms of players and staff. Sam, who registered more than 200 games for the club as a player, has enjoyed being a part of the development at the club as a coach as he took his first steps after hanging up his boots.

“As a coach there are always things that come up and surprise you. We’ve had different coaches come in like Steven Pressley, Justin Cochrane and Claus (Norgaard) so it’s about working with different coaches, learning new ideas and bouncing off each other,” said Sam. “They may have used things in the past that I can pick up on or they can take bits from us too. Four years as a coach is still relatively young, of course I played for a long time so those experiences help me. You’re ambitious, you want to keep progressing and as long as I feel like I’m doing that then I’m happy to be in such a good role. I understand that I’m very lucky to be in this role, to work with these players at this club. Neil has been fantastic for me. He gives me the opportunity to get grass time with the lads so I’m thankful for that.

“It’s good to have the tours back but they’re challenging, you’re away from home quite a bit but we’ve had a different array of fixtures, lads have made their debuts this season for the first team and there are some that we’re excited about in years to come. We’ve got our new training ground which will only help us to improve the players. We’re involved in the cup competitions and we did well in the Atlantic Cup. We were the only B team that were invited and we know there is lots to play for come the end of the season. We’re going to keep improving the players first and foremost but also get them to understand how to win because when they get into men’s football that is all that matters.”

There have been two first team debuts this season for Ryan Trevitt and Yehor Yarmoliuk which have been proud moments for the whole project. A raw talent like Ryan who arrived at Jersey Road from Leatherhead’s youth set up has benefited from the coaching and hours on the grass invested into him, whilst a brilliant young player in Yehor has been able to build a foundation with the B team as he continues to adapt to English football and show his ability. But despite the debuts and the regular involvement in first team training, there is a recognition that this won’t be the case for all players within the set up. Some may not quite reach the level to break into a Premier League squad so Sam says it’s important that there is always honesty between staff and players as they do all they can to get them to become the best possible player and person that they can be whilst in the B team.

He continued: “We sit down at the beginning of every season with the players, and we know that they’re not all going to make it through to the first team. Perhaps we can get one or two through and then it’s about focusing on how we can give the rest of the players a career. It’s about how we give them the good work ethic skills and help them to become good people. Football may not be for some of these lads in five, six- or seven-years’ time. It sounds harsh but it’s reality and we know we have to give these lads the grounding, whether that’s developing a work ethic or humility. They’re a great bunch of lads who work hard every day and if we can’t get them into the first team, can we get them to be a Football League player? Some of the lads didn’t quite make the grade last year but we always look every Saturday to see how they’re getting on. We want them to be the best footballers they can be but first and foremost the best people.”

No player sums that up better than Edon Pruti, who departed the club in January this year for an opportunity in the Football League with Hartlepool United. Having known Sam whilst playing for Hanwell Town, Edon then went on to play in the National League South with Slough Town before earning a contract with the B team. Added to that the likes of Dom Jefferies and Lewis Gordon have gone on to get significant minutes in the EFL after their moves to new clubs in the summer. Sam was pleased to see a player in Edon with some fantastic traits come in and benefit the group before earning his chance in senior football despite it not being in West London.

Sam explained: “He’s (Edon) a great story and one we’re proud of. He came in on trial and didn’t quite make the grade. I had the chance to play alongside him at Hanwell and I saw that he’s a great lad who wanted to work. He’s tough, honest and wanted to come and train with us. We felt it would be a great move for him and us to come in for a season and we could help him to have a career in full-time football. It came up in January and, yes, we would have loved to have kept him but the opportunity came up in the Football League so he went with our blessing. He's gone and played week in, week out, and is doing really well. Of course, we want them to get to the first team but we understand that it’s unrealistic to get them all through."

Edon Pruti departed for senior football with Hartlepool United in January

On those that have been able to go on and make their senior debuts with the first team in Ryan and Yehor, Sam believes both players have earned their opportunities for their performances so far this season.

“I can’t speak highly enough of Trev (Ryan Trevitt.) He came in to train with us and was on trial for us for a few months and we saw as a character that he wanted to learn and improve,” explained Sam. “He’s exactly the kind of player that we want in and around the squad and the club. He works so hard, he wasn’t in full-time football before he came to us, but we saw he was a natural at arriving into the box and he had really good moments. He’s improved and improved, he always wants to do more and he’s now reaping the rewards for all of his hard work and dedication that he’s put in. To get his debut this year was fantastic and I know it was a really proud moment for him and his family.

“It’s been difficult for Yehor having not been able to speak the language, having not played for a number of months, and of course, what’s been happening back home (Ukraine) for him. He’s come in and built his fitness and got up to speed with the way we play. He’s really started to show what a talented player that he is; it’s disappointing that he picked up the injury but, as we all know, injuries are part and parcel of football and I have no doubt that he has the resilience and the dedication to get himself back fitter and stronger. He’s another one that we’re excited about, and we know he has huge potential.”

Yehor Yarmoliuk became B team player number 25 to make a first team debut

Looking at the wider B team picture, one of the things that strikes you about this team is their ability to grind out results and find a way to win. A freezing cold morning on the outskirts of Amsterdam saw Charlie Farr finish with his left foot to give the Bees victory over Jong AZ Alkmaar, whilst a late Romeo Beckham strike earned the side progression to the semi-finals of the Middlesex Senior Cup against Wealdstone. There is strong mentality within the group and that comes from the standards set by the coaches, as well as the character within the team.

“It comes down to the training and not ever accepting being mediocre,” said Sam. “That’s down to the coaches pushing the players and the players pushing each other as well. It’s about being at it every day. If you train rubbish, then that is how you will play. You have to put it all in and be relentless. They never give up and we’ve seen them come back in games when they look unlikely. They’re the characters that we try and sign and once we’ve got them it’s about enforcing those habits daily.”

Coming back to Portugal, there is a clear reason as to why the young side head there during this time of the year- the fixtures. The forming of relationships which have allowed the side to arrange fixtures with men’s teams who are full of experience and play a range of different styles. To come up against the South Korean champions who may dominate the ball and work you physically. To face an AIK Stockholm side who are well versed in the tricks of the trade. To test yourselves against the Icelandic champions who will be comfortable in playing through your pressing game which you have worked so hard on during training. All of these matches have served as excellent tools for the development of the young players so far this season and Sam is pleased to be watching the learning and development as months go by.

He continued: “They’re (the games) very difficult. During those games the players have had to suffer at times. They’ve had to be solid in their shape and defensively they’ve had to work on the things that we’ve done on the training ground. We then learn about, when we win the ball, can we counter-attack? Can we transition well and be clinical when we go the other way? The players are learning how to take the ball under pressure against players who are bigger and stronger. The boys have dealt with it really well and the more times they can play against men, when they go out on loan or they break into the first team or go out and find a Football League club, then they will have played more games and they’re ready. We don’t want them to get thrown in at the deep end when that happens and then they find it hard.”

Having been a key player for Brentford during his playing days, Sam has been able to witness first-hand the development right across the club. With the club more than holding its own in the Premier League against some of the world’s biggest teams, the B team assistant can only admire the work that’s been done and to have a new training centre where he and the rest of the staff can continue to push the boundaries and aim to keep improving is a fantastic opportunity for everyone involved.

“It’s amazing. It’s not that Brentford have gone out with a billionaire owner and splashed the cash,” said Sam. “It’s been a process over 10 or 12 years, a strategy that the club has had and not come away from. They’ve stuck to their principles, year by year, and it’s nothing more than they deserve. Obviously, I’m Brentford at heart but to see it, it’s been fantastic for my learning and benefit to see how you can grow as a club organically.

Sam is proud of how far the club has come over the years

“The pavilion when I first signed was the gym, the canteen and the physio room. We used to get a cheese roll after training for lunch and now you go over to the Robert Rowan Performance Centre it’s just a completely different ball game. It’s not flash, it does what it’s there for which is to develop players and make them better. It’s there to get results and make the club better and it’s been a real benefit to go to work with that every day. Ultimately our job is to develop the players and with the equipment that we have at the facility, that’s only going to help.”

You can catch the B team in action on Monday 13 March in a 7pm kick-off at the VBS Community Stadium as the side face Arsenal Under-21s in the quarter-final of the Premier League Cup. Entrance is pay on the gate at the home of Sutton United!