OKAY, so I get the point about young footballers not always realising their potential. There have been plenty of those over the years.

I also get the point about overhyping something or somebody.

After all, we live in an age when a person becomes a celebrity for appearing on reality TV shows, despite having hardly any talent. Not being an old grump - it’s true.

However, for this week we should just say a big well done to the Swindon Town youth department for their current work.

A player appearing for his country at Under-19 level and a win over Cirencester which brings a third-round FA Youth Cup tie against Liverpool - terrific stuff - and for a club like ours bringing young players through to the first team is vital.

I've mentioned before in this column about the Thompson brothers, Miles Storey and Leigh Bedwell being in the League One team.

It’s always extra special for a supporter to see home-grown talent come through.

Long may it continue.

PDC is right, of course, when he says they need to make that next step to become a first-team regular, and it would be great to think some of the current crop CAN be part of the backbone of the club for many years to come.

After all, Swindon Town holds the record for the youngest defence to appear in the Football League.

On November 18, 1961, 17-year-old goalkeeper Michael O'Hara lined up with 18-year-old full-backs Terry Wollen and John Trollope at London Road, Peterborough.

The Town lost 3-2 but it was the era of ‘Bert's Babes’ and the beginning of a golden spell under Bert Head which saw promotion to Division Two a season later.

That squad featured in an amazing film called "Six Days to Saturday" directed by John Boorman, the man behind ‘Deliverance’. A great documentary and well-worth tracking down.

John Trollope of course went on to be the greatest club servant of all, with 889 appearances and 28 goals as the first overlapping full-back.

Other great examples come to mind like Paul Rideout.

I was there when Paul scored on his debut against Hull City having earlier had a wonderful goal disallowed.

Paul was 16 at the time and went on to score the winner in the cup final, so you see, some young footballers can go on and deliver.

It’s up to them of course.

We all wish we could have the talent to play professional football. It’s what we dream about.

I hope those young players do go on to realise their potential.

It would be fantastic to see Swindon Town have more players like John Trollope for years to come.

After all, top-class players must come from somewhere.