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Emley Academy | New Season Update

Emley Academy | New Season Update

Club Admin29 Jul 2023 - 07:30

Change of league and meet the new faces in the management & coaching team

Whilst the big kick off approaches for the first team this weekend, the Emley AFC Academy have also been busy preparing for the new season with a change of league, age group, busy trials and new faces in the management and coaching team.

Dominic Webster will continue to lead the Academy with board member John Pickup. The Under 18s will continue in the Junior Premier League and FA Youth Cup but the Under 23s has become an Under 21 side and will play in the Worksop Van Hire Development League North Division.

Webster explained: “In my time at the Academy, we’ve discussed making the move to an U21 side many times. It means the step up and development of our U18s is less of a jump and we can also utilise more players across both squads. The bonus is the U21 league we have been accepted into means will face better quality opposition and less travelling.”

The North division includes Penistone Church, Worsbrough Bridge and Swallownest.

The Under 21s will be managed by Webster. He will be joined by Antoni Short, Matt Bryce-Trainor and Iyrwah Gooden.

Short is a former Emley development squad coach and current manager of club partners Skelmanthorpe FC. Short joined Skelmanthorpe as a player in 1994, and continued to play football in the local area. Antoni then took on the role as Skelmanthorpe first team manager in 2022 and will continue in this role as well as joining Emley Academy as U21 Coach. “This next step will allow me to progress as a coach and pick up the professionalism of Emley to bring that back to my club by having this partnership, it has a dual purpose which I’m excited about."

Bryce-Trainor is a coach at Lower Hopton as well as taking on this new role at Emley. Matt brings a wealth of experience in one-to-one coaching, and believes that "player mindset and motivation bring the best to the game on and off the pitch."

Gooden joined Emley in 2022 as a first team player and has become a firm favourite with the players and fans. This season he will be combining his playing responsibilities, Irywah said: "I began supporting Dom towards the end of last season at training and during games. I really enjoyed it and I feel I’m contributing to preparing players for the demands of open age first team football."

The Under 18s have a new manager in Steve Stennett. Steve joins Emley from Holmfirth Town Junior Football Club. Steve has a passion for player progression. “I’m excited to join Emley which brings fresh opportunities to me as a Coach, I look forward to being part of a team and seeing what we can achieve this season."

He will assisted by Conner Tuff. Tuff was part of the double-winning Emley U19 side in the mid 2010s. Conner said: “I’m buzzing to be back at Emley, having previously played for the club 10 years ago. It’s been great to be back involved seeing so many familiar faces. It’s a real family club with some fantastic volunteers. I will be aiding the young players to help them transition in to Adult football with progression to U21s and ultimately 1st team in the coming seasons."

This summer’s trials saw record breaking numbers wanting to be part of the Academy and for new and current players there is also a new pathway for the new season. For those players not quite ready to break into the Emley first team, the club have informal links to several clubs to give promising youngsters the chance to develop in open age football - especially at steps 6 & 7. This will be now be supplemented with an additional role for Dominic Webster at neighbours Shelley FC.

Webster said: "I look forward to continuing my role as Emley Academy Manager and leading the U21s. I will also be a First Team Coach at Shelley FC which allows a significant growth opportunity for me nearby. Over the previous two years we built a fantastic platform for the Academy and will be aiming to push on to new heights this season. Combining my role at Emley Academy and at Shelley will allow an improved pathway for our academy players to develop within semi-professional football.”

"I’m looking forward to building upon a successful season last year. As you can see we have strengthened our management team and I look forward to developing the Academy further together during pre-season, before our first league matches from the end of September."

The first competitive game for the Academy is on Friday 18th August as the U18s host Dronfield Town in the FA Youth Cup. There are friendlies already lined up for both sides with the first set to be Huddersfield Town Academy visiting the Fantastic Media Welfare Ground on Wednesday 2nd August KO 7.30pm.

Follow our Academy social media accounts for match fixtures and news.

Twitter - Emley Academy
Instagram - emleyacademy
Facebook - emleyacademy

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