OVERVIEW:
Nuneaton Town have appointed Russ Horsley as Head of Youth Development as the club look to progress young players with a view to First Team Football. The existing Youth and Under 16 teams have had great success on the Field both this season and last, but opportunities for players transferring into the First Team squad and making the team have been limited since 2008, when Gareth Dean and James Armson made the step up. The club has progressed massively since then to play in the Vanarama Conference which is predominately occupied by full time teams.
The set up will look to progress a team in the MJPL competing in the under the 16 age group. The biggest change will be within the youth set up covering 16-18 year olds, who will be looking to recruit forty full time players that train each day while also committing to an education programme working towards a BTEC qualification.
Two teams will compete in the Midweek Floodlit League and an application has been made already for a team to play in the Football Conference Youth Alliance.
The club are also looking to progress a team with Under 21 football that could include over age players.
A number of meetings have already taken place and have included staff at the club and new Head of Youth Development, Russ Horsley.
Nuneaton need to look at progressing young players themselves as we are not in a position to secure established Conference players due to the divide in the bigger full time clubs and other part time clubs.
We need to shape a future and engage young hungry players that want to progress in the game.
Russ Horsley joins the club with a vast amount of experience in delivering both development football and educational programmes in the Midlands and other areas.
He is the man tasked with delivering the funding opportunities whilst also identifying and recruiting young players.
This will be via current players at the club, exit trials and recruiting players released at a higher level.
We will also be looking at apprenticeship opportunities and over a longer period of time developing a training ground over the river on the north of the Stadium.
The Club intends to hold trials and a number of open evenings as well as a targeted approach to attracting the best young players.
We will also be recruiting teaching and coaching personnel so the next few months are going to be incredibly busy as we look to get things into place.

For further information regarding future open evenings and trials please contact Russ Horsley [email protected] Tel- 07768 594372