The whole football club was united last night as the First Team and Academy joined up for a special coaching evening.
The First Team squad and coaching staff were special guests as all of the age group teams met up at either the Bangkok Glass Training Centre of at Court Place Farm for a Masterclass event.
Matt Jarvis, Assistant Academy Manager explains:
“It was a fantastic evening. Karl and Leon came along and gave talks about the club, their experience as youngsters, coaching and the values we share across the club. Then the Academy players were split into smaller groups according to positions.
“So, for example, the strikers went into a session with Matty Taylor and he coached the forwards from the under 7s through to the Under 16s. On the next pitch Cameron Brannagan and Marcus McGuane worked with the midfielders, or Elliott Moore was coaching the defenders.
“You see players like Matty, Sam Long, James Golding, Gatlin O’Donkor and Tyler Goodrham talking to the players and they have all come through the Academy and can pass on that experience, or Sam Baldock and James Henry with all of their experience and happy to answer questions and give advice.
“We thank all of them for giving up their time.”
Karl Robinson told us
“The Academy is in a really good place and Dan Harris did an amazing job. Now we have to make sure that work continues and we build on what we have. Can we get the connections even stronger? Can we work with players throughout their development?
“Seeing the young players coming through in all the age groups was tremendous. It’s not just about the players either: the age group coaches were all involved and that strengthens the bonds even further. It was a really good night and I hope the Academy players enjoyed it as much as we all did."
See a full length video about the event right here: