.....much of their first
team squad indicating an intention to return in 2019/20, the club’s attention
has turned to improving the pathway from their youth section to first team
football.
“Although
we’ve seen some really positive developments over the past few seasons, I’ve
had a real sense that our first team has become increasingly separated, in
terms of playing quality, from the rest of our squads”, said Chairman/Secretary
Neil Spiller. “With that in mind, last season I asked Ken Blackburn to join the
club, bringing with him a wealth of experience, both of the game in general,
but also what it takes to ensure that player development becomes an integral
part of a club’s plans.”
A
year after Blackburn’s appoint as Head of Football Development, Rovers are now
beginning to transform the way in which their squads will operate, with a view
to creating a very clear pathway for players to develop, most notably with the
way in which under-18s and reserve teams will operate.
“Despite
our second team achieving a solid league position last season, I felt that we
needed to shift the balance from one focused on results, to one where player
development was our paramount concern”, Spiller confirmed.
Blackburn
took the opportunity offered by Spiller 12 months ago and still feels he has a
lot to contribute to local football.
“Having
been with Gloucester city for 19 years, and having managed teams in over 700
games I felt I still had something to offer, and when Neil approached with the
role he had in mind for me I was more than happy to come on board, and
hopefully give them the benefit of my experience”, he confirmed.
With
the departure of last season’s reserves’ management team, Blackburn took the opportunity
to accelerate changes, resulting in the appointment of a new Head Coach, alongside
the Under 18s migrating from the control of the youth section, so that their
affairs will be managed by the senior section.
The
man charged with leading the coaching team will be former Cardiff City and
Wales under-19s player, Mike Palmer, who joins Rovers after spells coaching at
Gloucester City and most recently at Cheltenham Town, an appointment Blackburn
is delighted with.
“The
backbone of any successful club is its youth and reserve teams, and with
Tuffley Rovers already having a well-established youth section, we felt the
need for the under-18s to come under the main club umbrella helped create a
clear pathway through to the first team”, he mused. “This will be a development
squad incorporating both the Reserves and under 18s players, so with this in
mind I was able to bring some new coaches to the club, whom have the same
mindset as what we are trying to achieve, developing young players.
They
are focused on improving players, rather than adding to their personal CV.”
“Mike
is someone who I worked with at Gloucester City and he’s gone on to work in the
USA and at Cheltenham Town’s Academy, where he coached a successful under-15s
squad. I think he’s the perfect fit, as we try to bring the reserves and under-18s
together, with the view to using them as a development squad in the future. Our
first step is to stop referring to the team as our ‘Reserves’ and focus on the
young group as a Development Squad”, Blackburn added.
Palmer,
who is UEFA B qualified, makes no secret of his ambition to be successful in
the adult game, with an eye on managing at first team level, but he regards
that as a long-term goal and is, for now, focused on continuing his success in
developing young players.
“I
want to offer something different to Tuffley Rovers, creating a squad that will
be full of energy, playing an exciting brand of football. If I can offer a
different style of coaching that will not only develop the group of players
I’ll start working with but help build better relationships with those coming
through our youth section”, he confirmed. “My focus is 100% on developing the
best players we can, so that they can become candidates for the first team.”
Palmer
will be assisted in managing the Development Squad by Ash Evanson, who is also
a UEFA B qualified coach with another impressive CV, having spent ten years
coaching at clubs including Gloucester City, Cheltenham Town and Bristol
Rovers.
He
got to know Palmer whilst they were both at Gloucester City and didn’t hesitate
in taking the opportunity to link up with him again.
“I
have known Mike since our time under Ken Blackburn at Gloucester City and when
he offered me the chance to get involved at Tuffley, I saw it as a great
opportunity to get involved in the adult game, although we want to promote
youth and create a platform for players to develop at senior level”, Evanson
confirmed. “Mike and I share a passion for possession-based football, played at
a high intensity and want our performances to be exciting to watch.”
It
was the draw of working with Palmer and Blackburn that ultimately proved
decisive for Evanson.
“Once
I sat down with Mike and Ken, examining the finer detail of their plans, it was
an easy decision to make and I am really looking forward to the challenge of
developing young players, with a view to pushing them towards the first team,
helping to create a legacy and future success for Tuffley Rovers.”
It
isn’t all new faces at Rovers, though, with the new appointments focusing on
management of the club’s Gloucestershire Northern Senior League squad, where
they will be supported by current under-18s manager, Jamie Hyett, with a view
to creating a continuity between the two development sides that will support
players in making the transition to adult football.
Hyett,
who will work with both teams, retains Chris Ravenhill to work alongside him,
but they will be joined by Sam Hill, a Rovers first team player who is looking
to move into coaching, alongside his first team commitments. All the changes
have filled Hyett with enthusiasm ahead of a first season in the
Gloucestershire Floodlit Youth League, after a move across from the Midland Floodlit
Youth League.
“I
have to confess that this is the most excited I’ve been going into a new
season”, enthused Hyett. “The chance to work with a new group of coaches is
great for me personally, but we have a new group of players and I can’t wait to
the fantastic squad we’ve assembled in action.”
Hill,
who made 31 appearances for the club in the last Hellenic League season, is
equally enthusiastic at the opportunity to start on his new role.
“I
personally can’t wait to get the season started. I helped with the Under 18s
two years ago, but this is a different beast!”, he added. “We ooze
professionalism this year and it`s exciting to be surrounded by so many
motivated coaches and players. I intend to complete my Level 2 this
year and sharpen up my non-League experience with a bit of quality coaching. A
lot of our squad have been released from clubs and I know how that feels, so I
want to help produce the future of non-League football.”
There
is one further addition to the coaching set-up, with Craig Darkin joining as a
goalkeeping coach and he is another new recruit who demonstrates the value of Blackburn’s
appointment, having previously worked with him at City, too.
Blackburn
was keen to reflect on Tuffley Rovers’ own continuing develop, as they have
been confirmed as Gloucestershire County Women’s League participants for the
first time, following the League AGM last week.
“We
have also started a new women’s team, playing at the ground on Sunday
afternoons, which has already attracted players to what has become one of the
fastest growing sports.
“With
the Women’s World Cup now underway this will potentially create even more interest
in the game. I would like for Tuffley Rovers to be more than just a football
club, but where people of all abilities can come and use the facilities, in a
nice friendly safe atmosphere.” |