A couple of summers ago the Leeds United youth team were embarking on their annual trip to Dallas, Texas, to participate in a celebrated tournament there. Before the trip three of their number were separated from the herd and told to stay at Elland Road to work with the reserves. The club wanted to stretch the ability of their most promising kids.
Leeds United knew what they were doing. Harry Kewell, Alan Maybury and Stephen McPhail have all since made their first-team debuts at the club. More than that, they look like being a good part of the foundation upon which Leeds will build their team into the next century.
The three, along with Dubliner Damian Lynch, are flatmates in Wetherby, just outside the city, having passed together through Leeds United's progressive but thoroughly-disciplined youth players' live-in scheme.
Kewell, from Sydney, has made the most startling impression and the most first-team appearances so far. McPhail, the youngest and most talented of the three, and possibly the most talented of the next generation of Irish players, is being used sparingly and has been the leading light once again in the club's serene progress through the FA Youth Cup.
Maybury, meanwhile, has just been steadily delivering on his promise. If you were looking to a blue chip bet for a player to go the distance, Alan Maybury from Clontarf would be the name on your docket.
Maybury captained the Leeds youth team to the double last year, winning the league and, more prestigiously, the FA Youth Cup. His ability to combine leadership with the requirements of developing his own game has long been noted. He captained Irish schoolboy sides at under-15 and under16 and under-18 level.
His Leeds debut came two seasons ago when, in a time of crisis at Elland Road, he ended up making an appearance in a league game against Aston Villa. Detailed to man-mark Tommy Johnson, he became a victim of changing tactics and ended up in midfield between Gary Speed and Gary McAllister, before slipping back to the path of progress mapped out for him by Paul Harte, then the club's youth guru.
Signed by Leeds just before his 17th birthday, the club knew what they were getting. In the youth setup he was quickly handed responsibility and was noted as a good quick learner.
"The youth system was extremely disciplined," says Maybury. "Everyone that came through has benefited. You were there to play football. The training ground was out in the country, away from the bright lights, not where you want to be maybe when you are 16 to 18, but you are there for football at the end of the day. Strict about what you did and when you did it.
"Maybe fear of getting in trouble brought us through - we all lived together and had to get on. Some of the lads needed Paul a bit more, but they are getting their act together. It showed on the pitch when they won the (youth) league and the cup which the club hadn't won since 1965."
The earnestness of his approach and the receptiveness to coaching have been noted elsewhere.
"Maybury wouldn't be a messer," says Brian Kerr. "He'd be a very serious fellow about his football and not exactly Jack the Lad when the boys are going out drinking. Very focused."
Already he has been promoted beyond the ranks of Kerr's domain, having been called belatedly into the Republic Of Ireland B squad to play Northern Ireland a few weeks ago. Drafted in to replace right back Steve Carr, he ended up deputising for Phil Hardy across in the left back slot. Despite the unfamiliar environs, his performance was recognised as the most mature and accomplished of the night.
"I'm a right back really," he says. "At left back I suppose I just do the same things in reverse. I won't get carried away with it. My performances are still a bit erratic. At Leeds I play some weeks and I don't others. Hopefully I can push to nail down the position."
His break at Leeds has come about partly as a dividend from the club's appalling disciplinary record (the worst in the Premiership) and Gary Kelly's move forward to a midfield role. With the left full back David Robertson out injured for another month or so, and Gunnar Halle deputising on that side, Maybury has a run of perhaps five matches in which to secure tenure.
The opportunity to copperfasten his position comes at an interesting time. Today Leeds continue with the task of pressing for a UEFA Cup spot, next Saturday they take on Wolves in the quarter-final of an open-looking FA Cup competition. "Looking back my debut came probably too early for me," says Maybury. "It was OK for a once off, but a new manager (George Graham) came in and the chance came around this year.
"I'm not thinking ahead about Ireland. I have played for the 21s, but the job is to try and establish myself at Leeds. Mick (McCarthy) said the B game was collectively a good performance. We got beaten, but we played them off the park. Future of Irish football looks good. Anyway, as a full back I'm about 12th in line, I suppose."
A cash-strapped Leeds organisation, with a high profile manager, could be the best apprenticeship a future star could have. Maybury leaves you with the impression of maturity way beyond his 19 years when he speaks about Graham. Graham listening to Maybury is as important a part of the process as Maybury listening to Graham.
"He has been good with me. Bringing me through. He talks to me and listens to me. I don't have a bad word to say about him. David O'Leary has helped a lot. I was in the office for half an hour last week having a talk."
With three years left on his contract after this season, Maybury has both time and talent on his side.
"There's a lot to learn. It's hard to put my finger on it, when to close down, things you see on the pitch, being in the right position at the right time. The more I play the more I learn."
Last Sunday, at Newcastle, Maybury turned in probably his most accomplished performance so far in the Leeds senior team.
"He's a player this Maybury," cooed Mark Lawrenson over the Radio 5 Live airwaves. "Quite a player," concurred commentator Alan Greene.
The future calls out for Maybury's quiet brand of excellence.
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