Hampton & Richmond Borough academy manager Peter Augustine believes his programme is close to producing a stream of first team regulars for the club.

Augustine hosts open trials for 15 to 17-year-olds to join next season’s intake at the Beveree on Wednesday, having seen the likes of Charlie Ten-Grotenhuis and Paris Mason make the step up to the club’s elite squad last season.

Boss Alan Dowson has made some high profile signings this summer in the form of Josh Casey, Eddie Hutchinson and Seb Brown as he bids to mastermind Ryman Premier League promotion next term.

But Augustine insists there will remain space in Dowson’s squad next term for some of his talented youngsters – who combine playing with studying for a BTEC Level Three diploma in sport - providing they are good enough.

“It is extremely important for there to be a clear pathway in to the first team for these boys,” he said.

“Without that we are offering, nothing to these boys.

“When Alan arrived at the club he told the boys he would be looking at them and pushing them into the reserves and then the first team.

“That does not change just because he has signed one or two players.”

He added: “Since I have been at the club we have had at least one boy play in the first team, but they have only made one, two or three appearances.

“We need to start producing players who play and start 15 games a season for the first team and we are getting close to that point where we are producing players of that quality on a regular basis.”

Augustine took his youngsters to Ipswich Town earlier this month to take on the Championship club’s U17s.

And the manager said he and his boys got a real insight into what is required to make it in the professional ranks.

“It was a real eye opener for a lot of the lads. We lost 6-0 but that was a good result because I thought it might be nearer 12-0,” he said.

“It was great for them to see what it is like to play against professionals. It was also good from a coach’s perspective as it helped us look at how we train and coach the players.

“It is clear we will have to train differently to progress. We have more of these type of trips lined up for next season."

To book a spot at Hampton & Richmond Borough's academy trials tomorrow email Peter Augustine on pete.hrbfc@gmail.com or call him on 07832116718.