Shrewsbury Town Youth Development Strategy

On January 28th the official launch of the club's Youth Development Strategy took place at the Lord Hill Hotel, Shrewsbury.

Work began on this major project some eighteen months ago, instigated by the club's Chairman, Roland Wycherley and the club's Manager, Jake King. Both have long stressed the need for the Club to put in place a foundation for the development of young players and today, that special wish becomes a reality.

It is funded Jointly by the FA Premier League and English Sports Council. The club will receive £138,000 for each of the next four seasons. Already committed to £60,000 for the duration of the strategy, the club's Chairman, together with fellow Directors, are doing their very best to ensure the long term survival of the Club.

The strategy is unique to the Football League, in that it is based upon a partnership with the Shropshire Football Association, Shropshire Schools & Colleges FA, Shrewsbury & Atcham District Council, PA & the FE Colleges of Shropshire. It is also based upon equal opportunities for all, irrespective of age, race or gender.

The strategy has FOUR KEY AIMS
1) UNITY within the community
2) CONTINUITY for long term security.
3) QUALITY for a lasting experience.
4) ACCOUNTABILITY in terms of outcomes.

January saw the bulk of the strategy being implemented under the guidance of the club's new Associate Director, Alan Jones Other key appointments include a welcome return to the club of former Player, Coach and Manager, CHIC BATES who will oversee the development programme. CHARLIE WALKER is now full time and Head of Recruitment, ably assisted by a dozen Part-Time Scouts. DAVID TIMMINS has been appointed as a specialist Goalkeeping Coach and will also work alongside the general coaching staff, as well as in Schools and Colleges. ROGER PREECE has a slightly enhanced contract for his contribution to the Centre of Excellence. RAY COLES, currently a Part-Time Coach with the club, and Director of the Schools Coaching Centre, is temporarily in charge of the Centre of Excellence. The club has appointed a permanent Director to the Centre but the announcement is on hold until March 1st. KEN DYAS becomes the first Education Office at the club. He will be directly responsible for overseeing the general welfare of the boys within the Centre of Excellence (9-16 years); co-ordinating the educational requirements of the club's youth team players (16-19 years) and organising half term and weekend residential courses and trials. PHIL BRADBURY, former Head of Resources in the Education Department at SCC and one-time goal keeper on the books of the club in the late 50's, has been appointed Finance Officer. WENDY CLARE and JUDY SHONE run the Administration and Marketing Office. The club is in the process of forming a Medical Department, to include Doctors/Physiotherapists and Fitness Advisers, to ensure that everyone associated with he club receives the very best treatment from the moment they arrive. The club will remain committed to the Professional development of its Part-Time Coaching Staff and already JAKE KING and MARK KEARNEY, have made an enormous contribution in this area, supporting these Coaches at the Centre of Excellence.

ANDY RICH, GRAHAM NUDDS, STEVE WILDERSPIN, JOHN RHODES and GRANVILLE STACEY have done some sterling work for the Club.
Other unsung heroes in this exciting venture include contributions by CHRIS SMITH, his wife SYLVIA and MAELOR OWEN, local Policeman affectionately referred to as General Factotum.

It is widely accepted that the Club has some of the most exciting boys in the country, registered within its Centre of Excellence. Over the past two years, a number of the boys have been tempted to sign for bigger clubs, with more resources, better facilities and better Coaches. All that is now changing. Many parents, with their sons, though initially attracted to these other clubs for the reasons mentioned, are seeing that it makes common sense to stay local. Less time spent travelling long distances, sometimes on motorways putting miles on cars; less grey hairs on parents racing to meet starting times; not to mention the financial cost.

The work began on February 15th & 16th, at Shrewsbury School, with a two-day, intensive coaching programme for the Centre of Excellence and visiting triallists.
On March 12th to 14th, the Club has hired Lilleshall National Sports Centre for an intensive, Residential weekend for triallists from around the country and Scotland. Shrewsbury Town Football Club now has the QUALITY, in terms of coaching & recruitment, education counselling, facilities and support-services. It also has a strategy to ensure CONTINUITY that will ultimately UNITE the community and thus increase the numbers who generally support the Club.

Finally, the Chairman acquired a training ground at Sundorne for the long-term benefit of the Club and already plans in hand to improve the facilities at that ground. These include an illuminated astro-turf area and new changing accommodation.
Arrangements for satellite coaching centres at Market Drayton, Ellesmere and Ludlow are well advanced and the Club intends to form more, as and when finance becomes available.

Finally, let us not overlook the success that the Club has already achieved in securing local footballers for the First Team. In the eleven that defeated Southend, there were five local Players with three in the back four. Now we have the structure both to look after the local young, quality Players and simultaneously, to attract Players of similar ability from further afield.

Thanks to the Chairman, the Directors and the Manager, the future looks bright, (not orange, as in the TV advert) - but BLUE.

Today at our home match against Darlington, Chairman Roland Wycherley will receive the presentation cheques from the English Sports Council and the FA Premier League during the half-time interval. Shrewsbury Town wish to record their thanks and appreciation to both organisations.

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