Norwich City

ACADEMY FOOTBALL

Steve Weaver
Head of Football Development

Steve joined the Academy with 25 years of experience in youth development and is a holder of the coveted UEFA Pro License. Before joining Norwich City he worked for almost six years as a development coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he was appointed to bridge the gap between under-21 and first team football. 
  
Beforehand, Steve had spent 20 years at Wrexham, where he turned to coaching after his playing days were cut short by injury. He was Head of Youth at the Club between 2002 and 2007 before moving into first team football. During his time at the Racecourse Ground, Steve worked alongside current Sporting Director Stuart Webber. 
  
Steve has also had roles at Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and as a part-time Coach Educator for the English and Welsh Football Associations.

Dean Wright
Head of Academy Coaching

Dean brings 13 years coaching experience including eight years at Bury Football Club in various roles at the Community Trust, the Centre of Excellence and the Academy. His qualifications include UEFA A Licence, FA Advanced Youth Award and a Master’s Degree in Sports Coaching.

Dean worked with Steve Weaver at Huddersfield Town in their successful promotion winning season before moving to Norfolk to take up his role at the Norwich City Academy.

David Wright
U23s Lead Coach

David’s Professional playing career has spanned 17 years including playing spells at Crewe, Wigan, Norwich, Ipswich, Crystal Palace and Colchester United.  Whilst still playing for Colchester David started working as a part-time coach at Ipswich while completing his UEFA  A Licence and Advanced Youth Award in 2014.

David became the assistant manager at Colchester United for five months before taking on their U18s for six months.  David joined Norwich City in November 2016 as Lead Coach for the U18s, moving into the role of U23s Coach in December 2018.

Alan Neilson
U23s Coach

Greg Crane
U18s Coach

Tom Weal
Goalkeeping Coach

ACADEMY BACKROOM STAFF

Jay Eastoe Smith
Head of Academy Sports Science

Jay leads the department and is a home-grown success story.  He completed a six month internship with the Club whilst in the final year of his Sports Science degree. Upon graduating in 2012 Jay joined the club as a full-time intern within a very young but skilful Sports Science and Medicine department and that year the Club was successful in the FA Youth Cup under the guidance of Neil Adams and Gary Holt.

Away from the Club, Jay is in the final year of a Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning at St Mary’s University in Twickenham, and is a keen local football footballer and cricketer when time allows.

Simon Arundel
Lead Academy Physiotherapist

Carl Pope
Lead Academy Analyst

Jay Marshall
Academy Recruitment Officer

Matt Miller
Academy Psychologist

ACADEMY OPERATIONS

Jennifer Rice
Academy Manager

Clive Cook
Head of Player Care

Matt Wells
Head of Academy Education

James Bemment
Regulatory Compliance Manager and Academy Safeguarding Officer