WELCOME TO MATTHEW WRIGHT
Last week our current under-11 coach Matthew Wright began full-time employment at the Club as our Academy Skills Coach. Matthew has been at the Club as a coach now for two seasons and also spent six years at the Club as a schoolboy.

After leaving Norwich as a schoolboy, Matthew went on to play as a professional for Torquay United before returning to the area to play for King's Lynn and Diss Town. He has been coaching football to young children in schools for the last ten years and has very good knowledge of how to bring the best out of young players by creating a fun and enjoyable learning environment.

The Skills Coach position is an initiative which has been put in place by the Football League and any Club who employs a full-time member in this position will receive funding from the Football League towards the employment of this coach. Their aim is to improve the overall technical ability of young players in this country, aiding the step from youth football to the professional game.

Matthew will work closely with our Academy players aged between eight and 11 developing their skills, techniques and ball mastery, ensuring they are fully prepared for the more senior Academy age groups and providing them with the ideal base to progress and achieve their potential in the game.

Matthew will also work with players between the ages of five and seven who are too young to be registered at the Academy. He will liaise with various local junior football clubs, schools and development centres and will discuss with them the coaching and technical programme he believes young footballers should follow in order to enhance their skills and technique and give them an opportunity to progress to the next level.

On behalf of all players and staff at the Academy I would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome Matthew to Norwich City Football Club. I am sure he will settle into his role quickly and will soon start to have a positive influence on the development of the young players in our Academy and around the county.

Ricky Martin
Academy Manager