U18s: PHILLISKIRK DEDICATES NEWCASTLE WIN TO BEHIND THE SCENES STAFF

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Youth team boss praises behind-the-scenes staff following opening weekend victory

2021-08-17T10:00:00.000Z

U18s: PHILLISKIRK DEDICATES NEWCASTLE WIN TO BEHIND THE SCENES STAFF

Youth team boss praises behind-the-scenes staff following opening weekend victory

2021-08-17T10:00:00.000Z

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The Clarets kicked off their 2021/22 season with an excellent 8-3 win over Newcastle United on Saturday.

However, despite plenty of deserved praise given to the players after a fantastic win, U18s head coach Tony Philliskirk dedicated the victory to all the backroom & coaching staff, medical staff, player welfare & safeguarding officers and academy administrators, after a COVID-19 hit pre-season damgaged a lot of plans and schedules.

And the youth team boss believes everyone who was involved to getting the players ready for the new season, with many restrictions in place, isolation periods & only training as a team for two weeks, deserve a big mention.

Philliskirk said: "First of all, it was a fantastic result and a fantastic achievement for the boys, and a massive well done to them for a great performance.

"But I have to give a big mention to the academy staff, they should take a lot of credit for what happened on Saturday.

"We've had lads isolating in hotels, so we've had our safeguarding and welfare team, Helen Tanner and Darren Kelly & Connor Park the Academy Secretary, there looking after them and making sure they are ok and staying in hotels.

"They have been unbelievable, liasing with their families, looking after them, they really have been fantastic for everyone.

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"Adam Yates our Strength & Conditioning Coach put together an unbelievable programme in conjuction with Richard Jackson and Bryan Collins our physios.

"They kept the lads going through a tough period for everyone and I can't praise them enough, they have all played a massive part in not just getting them ready for the season and getting their fitness right, but that result and performance on Saturday.

"We had zoom and online sessions, with the football staff too like myself, John Townson, and the goalkeeping coaches Gage Walsh and Connor King, who have been great with the boys too.

"A huge mention to the analysts too, Shawn Young and Connor McGowan who put together presentations and helped out massivley, it's been a monumental team effort all round.

"The bus drivers too, who get the lads around, Woodsy and his team have been a big help for us and making sure the lads are all ok.

"Everyone has played a huge part and the conjunction of everyone coming together really did pay off on the weekend and I can't thank everyone enough.

"So, I would just like to dedicate Saturday's result and performance, not just to the players, who showed great determination and fight, but to all the academy staff involved over the last few weeks, it's been a fantastic effort from all involved and they all deserved to take some credit."