You might have noticed an increasing number of Academy players featuring for the first team in pre-season this campaign.
A sign that the production line of talent is very much up and running, it’s the consequence of years of hard work behind the scenes from both coaches and players.
This season will see the likes of Wilson Gray, Owen Gray, Jo Heppell, Kadjo Boime, and Motta Lamah registered with the first team.
The club, from Academy Lead Steven Shaw to first team Manager Craig Lynch, firmly believe that every minute spent in squads, appearances off the bench, and starts are all invaluable to our young, aspiring Academy lads.
Two prime examples of our tried and trusted pathway to first team football are Ryan Chater and Max Monaghan.
The former has been outstanding during a breakout season last time out that may have finished with the team being relegated but he featured in midfield before making the right back berth his own for the final third of the campaign, barely putting a foot wrong.
Also seeking to make his mark is defender Monaghan, the towering defender who has settled comfortably into first team football and started regularly during our pre-season outings to date.
Both either passed through or are currently making their way through the year groups at our Academy and are outstanding examples of hard work being rewarded at the Highwaymen.
“When I first joined, I was just wanting to play football for a few more years instead of getting a full-time job and of course my goal was to play for the first team,” said Chater, who first joined aged 16 in 2023.
“I always saw it as a possibility to get in the first team because I knew my quality was good enough.
“It’s just the hard work and the commitment that helped really – the coaches at the time, who played at a good level themselves, were great for me.
“Now that I’m in the squad, I firmly believe I’m ready – it’s great, every training session learning from the experienced players that we have. I can’t wait to get going.”
Monaghan has just arrived on first team scene after excelling in the Academy set-up. A commanding defender, his read of the game is superb, allowing him to snuff out the danger before it escalates.
“The coaching,” Monaghan said succinctly when asked about the element he enjoys most in the Academy.
“I joined in September last year when I was 18; it brought me on a lot and prepared me more for senior football and what goes with that.
“What I’m hoping to achieve this season is to just win as many games as possible and hopefully end up getting promoted.”
Academy Lead Shaw has been impressed by the progression of not only those two, but a host of players that have evolved over recent seasons, with the first team benefiting.
“The Academy players have had a lot of involvement this summer; there’s been over 20 lads involved in training and some of the games,” he said.
“They have learned so much from being around the first team players and being coached by the first team staff, especially tactically.
“It will have made them aware of the standards, fitness requirements, and levels that are needed to be at our first team level – seeing the successful transition of the likes of Ryan and Max this summer, and the lads before them (Will Dowling, Matty Griggs, and Aaron Chungh), shows them it’s achievable.
“They just need to continue working hard and when an opportunity comes along make the most of it and earn more, while also being an example to the rest of the Academy as well so they aren’t the last.”
First team boss Lynch has been all too aware of the progress of the Academy programme, seeing it not only take shape during his time at the club, but evolve into a tangible and genuine pathway from education and football to the first team and valuable qualifications that create careers.
“The Academy/College programme has been a positive success story for the football club,” said Lynch.
“Progress of this has allowed us to take players into a first team environment, whether that is training or playing, and get them involved in match day squads.
“I believe we’ve had double figures of players making their competitive debuts over the last four years and we’ve had multiple players who have signed contracts and are now part of the first team full-time.
“Shawzy has done a great job with Academy recruitment – in the first team, we have delivered on the aspect if you do well in the programme, you will get a chance to train with us and then it’s up to them to get into the squad.”
If you’d like to enrol on our programme, or find out more about the qualifications on offer, please email academy@morpethtownafc.com to start the conversation.
