A year in Review 2021-2022

July 27, 2022
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Update from James Caldwell - Oldham Athletic Development Centre’s DC Manager

Following our second full season, and first season with few limitations in place in terms of Covid-19 restrictions it’s been a great opportunity over the summer to review the past 12 months worth of work at the Oldham Athletic Development Centre.
 
Whilst the obvious disappointment as a club to the relegation to the National League has taken a large amount of the focus and the news as a result, its fair that the boys and girls that have worked tirelessly over the past 12 months, in their aims of becoming an athlete and progressing, should be given their time and attention.
Yassine (blue shirt) getting his send off from the squad
 
Over the course of this year we have restructured the centre with combining my role as the Development Centre Manager and the Head of Academy Recruitment at Oldham Athletic. It has provided the opportunity to promote Dave Stansfield to Head of Coaching - Foundation Phase to oversee that important phase. We have also welcomed new coaches both individual and specialists. We have also expanded to include a specialist Sports Psychologist in James Barraclough to add to the support we can provide the players.
 

Onto the players, we are excited to confirm that currently 24 Players this season graduated from the Development Centre from August last year to now, this includes 7 Players at post 16 being offered contracts/ agreements, 2 female athletes signed to RTC programmes and 11 players signed to Oldham Athletic’s academy, with the remaining players being signed to other academies in the North West.

Below is a list of all players who signed agreements with Professional and Semi-Professional Clubs, Academies and RTC from August 2021 to July 2022 that had been at Oldham Athletic Development Centre. These achievements remain theirs, we wish to congratulate the below:

Under 18s
Albern
James
Faris
Jake
Matthew
Barney
Ashley

Under 16s
Callum
Ben

Under 14s
Scarlett

Under 13s
Matthew
Newton
Keone
Owen

Under 12s
Alfie
Ciara

Under 11s
Finley
Granted
Yassine

Under 10s
Isaac

Under 8s
Brandon
Mason
Jude
Miles

 
Currently 15 players are still on trial at academies including our Oldham Athletic Academy, whilst 11 players were given full YD8 trials before then returning to the development centre last season.
 
Finley Hemissi
Last year saw 16 players graduate from the Development Centre so it’s a big improvement on what we achieved as a group in 2020-21, however we still are looking at ways we can continue improving the programme and provide opportunities to our young athletes.

The Staff at the centre have spearheaded a number of initiatives:

  • A more robust coaching programme that is designed around individual needs of players
  • The return of development plans with regular parent 1 to 1 meetings
  • Updated registers and attendance levels
  • Improved matchday cards and analysis
  • Internal CPD Events to support staff development and training
  • Opportunities for experience at Semi-Professional Football Clubs

The Development Centre programme has also now taken over the management of the Shadow Youth Team, which consists of a Full-Time Football and Education programme for post-16 learners. Taking place at Avro FC’s Vestacare Stadium, the programme gives young people aged 16-18 the chance to receive professional football training alongside studying for an academic qualification.

Players also receive a full-time education delivered by experienced tutors with in-depth experience of the football industry, ensuring all athletes receive the best possible support in their footballing journey.

Whilst its easy to be self-congratulatory about the achievements this year, the aim to deliver higher standards as staff and coaching teams remains paramount. The Development Centre programme is only two years old and there are still a number of players within the programme that show the attitude and ability levels in order to progress towards Academy standard Football, ensuring these players receive the time and effort that they need to nurture their talents cannot be underestimated.

The Development Centre does rely heavily on parent support to financially provide the level of coaching, facilities and standards it currently provides, an area that I would personally like to improve upon is the reduction of this level of support that is required from parents with more support from the local community, sponsorship and fundraising to develop more players and athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Currently the centre offers a Bursary programme to players who require this level of support, it is currently heavily over its recommended number for the size of the centre currently and requires bolstering to ensure that all athletes who show the potential are given the support necessary.

Our focus now remains for the start of the coming season in September, with over 120 athletes in the programme currently, we look forward to supporting more players on their journeys in Football. We will be hosting a number of trial events over the summer period as we look to ensure that we provide a pathway to both Oldham Athletics Academy and to opportunities at both professional and semi-professional football for our eldest players.

James Caldwell

Development Centre Manager

[email protected]

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