Academy coaching update

We are pleased to announce the appointments of Matt Taylor, Ryan Mason and Nigel Gibbs to our Academy coaching team, with existing members of staff Chris Riley and Troy Archibald-Henville assuming revised roles to support the older players in the Academy.

An experienced former midfielder, Matt has enjoyed an extensive playing career that has taken him across the Premier League and Football League structure, representing Luton Town, Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United, Burnley, Northampton Town and, most recently, Swindon Town, where he served as a player-coach. The 37-year-old joins us full-time as our new Under-18s Coach.

Former England international midfielder Ryan needs no introduction. A product of our Academy system, he established himself as a key player in our first team under Mauricio Pochettino, making 70 appearances and scoring four goals, before joining Hull City in 2016. Following his injury-enforced retirement as a player, the 28-year-old has been regularly involved alongside our Academy staff on youth team matchdays over the last year while working through his coaching badges. He now officially joins us as Academy Coach, with responsibility for our Under-19 UEFA Youth League side.

Former Watford defender and experienced coach Nigel returns to us as Assistant Head of Player Development, Under-17 to Under-23. Nigel has previously worked with us in a similar role, around senior coaching appointments at Leeds United, Millwall, Swansea City and Reading.

Chris is a former apprentice and young professional with us, who returned a number of years ago as a sports science intern and became the fitness coach for our Under-18s. He is now working his way through his coaching licences and will support our coaching team alongside his existing role.

Fellow Academy product Troy returned to us last year in a part-time coaching role, having represented Exeter City, Swindon Town and Carlisle United during his professional playing career. He now moves to a full-time position, where he will continue to work with our younger age groups but will additionally be responsible for taking senior Academy players from the Under-18s and Under-23s under his wing in a pastoral development role.

John McDermott, Head of Academy Coaching and Player Development, said of the new appointments: “We have always tried to assemble a blend of staff who know what the demands of the game are at the highest level. It’s also important to have a mix of experience through internal promotions and external appointments, including coaches who have recently retired and are current with the modern player, plus coaches who have been in the cauldron of professional football – not just Academy football – and can pass on their wisdom of what the real game expects in terms of behaviour and performance. All five of these members of staff understand the incredible standards set for young and senior players at this Club and they will be invaluable in driving our players to become the best young men and players that they can be. Four of these staff have spent many years at the Club and know how we function. Only Matt is completely new to the fold, so the experience for the players will be seamless.”