LONGWELL REFLECTS ON EXCITING YEAR

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Feature-length interview available to watch now

2024-06-06T09:00:00.000Z

LONGWELL REFLECTS ON EXCITING YEAR

Feature-length interview available to watch now

2024-06-06T09:00:00.000Z

Feature-length interview available to watch now

Academy Manager David Longwell has described his first season in the job as an ‘exciting challenge’, with plenty of development on and off the field across the various age groups.

Longwell moved to Lancashire in August 2023, joining from Shrewsbury Town where he had held first-team coaching and Academy leadership roles.

The Club’s Academy runs officially from the U9s age group right through until the U21s, with a ‘pre academy’ set up in place for U7s and U8s.

Longwell’s position sees him oversee all stages of that pathway, ensuring that the players are given as much opportunity to progress as possible.

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“It’s been a challenging year, but in a good way,” he said.

“As with any academy I’ve worked in there’s always a lot of work to do, and we’re trying to align everything from the first team down.

“I think it’s going in the right direction. We’ve got a lot of good staff within the Academy and the Club that are part of this long-term project, and the long-term aim is to get players readily stepping into the first team.

“That doesn’t happen overnight, so this season’s been about putting the fundamentals in place to start the process.”

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL VERSION ON YOUTUBE.

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Although keen to stress that Academy football is not all about results and silverware, Longwell noted his happiness at the U21s winning the Central League Cup against Derby County, a Category One side, at Pride Park.

“It was a really good experience for the players,” he continued.

“To get a taste of winning football at a good level, and at a stadium, was beneficial. Young players are always going to be up and down, but generally they had a really good mentality towards what we were asking them to do.

“We bought some players in in January because we needed to supplement the group that was there.

“We always try and move younger players up, too, that’s what an academy’s about at the end of the day, with examples including Vernon Masara, Murray Campbell and Joe Ashton.”

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In this end of season special, Longwell also looked back at the U18s’ season under the guidance of Tony Philliskirk, international recognition for various players, off-field enrichment for the younger age groups, pitch redevelopment work at the training ground and plenty more.

You can also have a look back at the U21s and U18s’ campaigns in more detail via our season review articles. To do so, please click the desired link below.

U21S SEASON REVIEW: PART ONE

U21S SEASON REVIEW: PART TWO

U18S SEASON REVIEW: PART ONE

U18S SEASON REVIEW: PART TWO