Duane Allen

YDP coach at a Category 1 Academy UEFA A licenced Coach, Advanced Youth Award, BA Honours Sports Development and Coaching. Experience developing U8-U16s.

[Dorking Wanderers FC @DorkingWDRS]

**LEAKED FOOTAGE OF MANAGER MARC WHITE CONFIRMING HIS THIRD SUMMER SIGNING**

SPREAD THE WORD - RT

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

@pete___lee @WFC_Academy A great journey mate and so many memories a bump in the road will only make him better

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

@DaveIcke @dcfcofficial @WFC_Academy Yes mate was good to see them. Same as Will getting some minutes today. Known him since U10s

[Walsall FC @WFCOfficial]

Two more changes confirmed which includes a debut for Will Etheridge. 🔁

⚪️⚫️ 3-1 🔴⚫️#Saddlers

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

Things you love to see ⚽️

[Walsall FC Academy @WFC_Academy]

Great to see our Apprentice of the Season Will Etheridge named amongst the substitutes for today’s first-team match at @bromleyfc!

Go well @WFCOfficial! 🤝

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

Great to see Will on the bench for Walsall today, signed at U10s and hopefully gets some minutes today and continues that journey ⚽️

[Walsall FC @WFCOfficial]

Today's #Saddlers XI! 📋

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

Enjoyable day at SGP today observing Bruno Lages session this morning and managing matchday from the touchline this afternoon. Great to catch up with some familiar face including some of the Walsall academy boys ⚽️.

[LMA @LMA_Managers]

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us over the past two days for our #AnnualTechnicalMasterclass

A stellar line-up delivering insight, knowledge and learning.

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

@juranceb01 No penalty on lookman? Same thing no? On fell over and one tried to be honest

[UltimateplayerHQ @playersessionHQ]

🚨 GIVEAWAY 🚨

We launched our Ultimate 2-in-1 Planner last week… now ONE coach wins the full Ultimate Coach Bundle 👀

👇 TO ENTER 👇

• Follow
• Repost

⏰ Winner picked TOMORROW at 8PM

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

@kieronbutton17 Been coaching my little girls U8s team this season and its scary some of the things Ive seen from coaches and parents.

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

Worked with Stan for a few years, pleased to see him get his reward for his hard work and honesty.

[Walsall FC @WFCOfficial]

A teenager with a bright future ahead. 💫

We are thrilled to announce that Stan Straw has signed his first professional contract with the #Saddlers!

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

@DarioSeminerio Love it pal, hope your well and all the best for 2026

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

@AaronJo28636431 Thanks pal. Merry Christmas to you too

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

A nice way to end the year with England U15 v Italy at SGP now time for a break before the 2nd half of the season

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

Great insight into the career and thoughts of Roberto Martínez, some great take aways on philosophy, player management and things he would change

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

Had the pleasure of working with Ethan when he was U10-U12 thoughts with his family.

[Macclesfield FC @thesilkmen]

With the heaviest of hearts and an overwhelming sense of surrealism that Macclesfield FC can confirm the passing of 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod.

Travelling back from Bedford Town last night, Ethan was involved in a car accident on the M1 which tragically took his life.

Ethan was an incredibly talented and well-respected member of our First Team Squad, who had his whole life ahead of him.

But more than that, Ethan’s infectious personality endeared him to everyone that he came into contact with.

In giving his all in everything he did, Ethan effortlessly pushed us all to be the best we can be - both on and off the pitch.

Ethan’s professionalism and unwavering work ethic inspired everyone, and his lust for life put smiles on all our faces - even on the darkest of days.

News of Ethan’s passing has devastated our entire Club and no words can convey the immense sense of sadness and loss that we feel now.

The deep mental scars elicited from Ethan’s passing will undeniably never heal - but one thing is for sure, and that is Ethan’s vibrant legacy will never fade, no matter how much time passes in the future.

Ethan will live in our hearts and minds forevermore and no matter what the future holds, his unique smile that mesmerised us all will never be forgotten.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to Ethan’s family and friends at this deeply traumatic time, together with an assurance that we will provide as much support as we can to those who need it.

May you rest in peace Ethan - you will forever be a Silkman.

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

Nice to see some of the WBA U15s included in the squad ⚽️

[England @England]

The U15 & U16 #YoungLions squads for December �The U15 & U16 #YoungLions squads for December 🦁

[Duane Allen @DJAllen04]

No un mal ano de español #Duolingo365

[The Sporting Resource @TheS_Resource]

Alex Inglethorpe, Liverpool’s Academy Director, is blunt about early ranking, it’s almost meaningless.

What a player is at 9, 12 or 13 tells you almost nothing about what they can become.

➠ Trent Alexander-Arnold not number one in his group.
➠ Connor Bradley not number one in his group.
➠ Jarell Quansah not number one in his group at that time.
And you could go through all of them.

Every now and again you see the obvious one, Jude Bellingham at Birmingham and Rooney at Everton. Clear standouts who stayed standouts. They exist, but they’re the exception.

⇢ Harry Kane shows the reality.
At Tottenham at 13 he was middle of the group at best. Not on the podium. Gold and silver medalist Harry Kane wasn’t anywhere near it according to Alex Inglethorpe when he was at Tottenham Academy then.

Then Brad Friedel came in one day and said “he finishes like Robbie Fowler”.
➝ No backlift.
➝ Hits the ball hard.
➝ Finds corners.
That single comment shifted the perspective.

These players didn’t announce themselves as prodigies, they grew. They changed physically, mentally, technically, socially.

Someone recognised the direction they were moving in, not the snapshot they were frozen in.

That’s often (not always) core coaching failure at youth level, adults obsess over the podium instead of the trajectory.
⁃ The best at 12 is often the earliest developer.
⁃ The middle is often the one with the longer runway.
⁃ The worst is often the one carrying the biggest biological gap.

Alex Inglethorpe’s message is brutal but accurate:
🔴 Stop judging children by where they sit in the pack.
🔴 Start judging them by what their behaviours, mindset and habits suggest they might become.