AFC Rushden & Diamonds are delighted to announce the appointment of Steve Whitney as Manager of the club’s Academy.
Steve brings his wealth of experience in youth football to the AFC Rushden & Diamonds Academy and will also renew his close working relationship with Academy Head Coach Mark Starmer, continuing from where the pair left off with the AFC R&D Under 18’s team last season. The newly-formed Academy will run four teams (U11, U14, U15, U16) in the Junior Premier League during the 2012/13 season with training on Tuesday and Thursday nights and matches on Saturdays. There are still some spaces in most age groups, although these are limited, but the UEFA A and B qualified Academy Coaches are always interested in looking at new players. The club are also looking for assistant coaches to work with some of the Academy teams. If you are interested in getting involved in the Academy as either a player or coach, please email Steve Whitney – steve@pitchero.com
Chairman Ralph Burditt spoke to afcdiamonds.com on Steve’s appointment. “Steve was a mine of help and information this time last year when we were setting up the Under 18s and I’m delighted that he’s going to be able to do exactly the same for the Academy sides. It is very important that all the players in the club feel that they are part of a whole, that they have the chance to progress if they are able or to move between teams if they wish to. Steve’s job is to make sure that this happens, he’ll be a big part of the glue that sticks the youth set-up together and I am very confident in his ability to perform in this role.”
Steve, also speaking to the website, said that he was approaching the role of Academy Manager with a great deal of interest as it was something new to him.
“After all my time in the game as a manager, I was looking for something different to get stuck into and this role along with the Head of Youth Development gives me a very wide scope. I am looking forward to developing a proper link between the players of the community South Rushden teams, now under the AFC wing to show them that if they have the ability, they are able to move through to the Academy teams.”
Image courtesy of Stephanie Webb
