Worcester City and Birmingham City celebrate the link between the clubs

Worcester City have struck a deal with Birmingham City that will see youngsters from the Premier League club play for City's reserves this season.

The St George's Lane club's director Dave Boddy told BBC Hereford and Worcester it would benefit both clubs.

"It's an excellent relationship for both us and the Blues and we are very chuffed about it at Worcester City.

"We had decided not to run a reserve side but they have agreed to run a Central Conference side for us."

Dean Holtham is the community director at Birmingham City and he agreed that this deal would be beneficial to both clubs.

He says a lot of time and money is invested in the training of youngsters up to the age of 19 when, if they are not in the first-team squad, then they can drift away from the game altogether.

I see it as a great opportunity to forge strong links with them Worcester City's Dave Boddy

He feels this link-up with Worcester City would ensure there are opportunities for some of these players to continue their footballing education with competitive matches.

"We run a unique programme where we take 16-19-year-old footballers who need to do an education programme as well as their football," he explained.

"We place them some of them with professional football clubs but we didn't have anywhere for the older ones to play.

"So when they come to 19 if they don't have a club as such, then there is nowhere for them to go."

Boddy believes there is every chance that some of the Blues' youngsters could force their way into Worcester manager Richard Dryden's first-team plans .

"I think there will be an opportunity for that to happen and I see it as a great opportunity to forge strong links with them," he said.

"We have talked about the possibility of doing something within the community and I am sure there are other links we can forge."

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