JACK’S BACK - AGAIN!

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Jack Cork has re-joined Burnley Football Club - again!

2024-10-03T09:00:00.000Z

JACK’S BACK - AGAIN!

Jack Cork has re-joined Burnley Football Club - again!

2024-10-03T09:00:00.000Z

Jack Cork has re-joined Burnley Football Club - again!

This time the popular midfielder has taken the role of Academy Coach/Player, working as assistant to the Under-21s Manager Andy Farrell.

“It’s amazing to be back.

“Working with Andy Farrell and the U21s has been a good experience so far. I’ve been doing lots of stuff I wouldn’t usually have been doing as a player, like taking meetings for example.

“This is the next step of my career, and life, as I try to discover new things that I might be good at and some things that I might not be good at!”

The 35-year-old started his coaching pathway while he was still a player a couple of years ago, picking up his UEFA B coaching licence at Burnley alongside Ashley Barnes.

“I think as soon as you get older than thirty every footballer starts to think about it. You don’t want to think about it because you’re enjoying playing football so much but for me, especially getting my B licence with Barnsey, it was a lot of fun!

“Then I started doing my A licence and it’s just grown and grown.

After spending a short amount of time away from playing football, Corky couldn’t resist the chance to start his new coaching career at the club he’d played more than 200 times for, in three spells, over a fourteen year period.

“I missed it when I was away for a month or so and it’s nice to be back in the environment and be back involved in football now as Andy Farrell’s assistant.

“Because I’m new to this, I sometimes join in with some of the sessions which helps as I can see the picture earlier when I’m in there playing.

“When I’m running around, and I can see it in front of me in the moment, I think people can respond better to what I’m saying. At the minute, at this stage of my career, it’s perfect.”

His new role also gives room for him to take part in some Under-21 fixtures when the moments are right.

"I’m not sure how fit I’ll be but maybe when the fixtures pile up in December or certain things happen on the pitch that Faz or me think might help with someone’s development, maybe for 15 minutes or so, I can come on and play certain parts of the game to help that player see how someone with my experience would be able to cope in that role.”

The next step, for now at least, is getting used to putting in much longer hours at the training ground than he did as a player.

“I’m not fully used to it yet! It’s not just planning sessions and then going home. It’s all the extras as well like making sure all the bibs are washed, all the balls are pumped up, getting control of the group and teaching the young lads about responsibility.

“If they’re not doing it there, they won’t do it on the pitch so we drill in the values and standards into the kids so they can translate that onto the pitch.”

You can watch the U21s play at Turf Moor next week during the international break when they take on Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League Cup. Season ticket holders get in free!