Marc Walters

Proud dad of 3... Josh, Mila & Thea. Academy coach @mansfieldtownfc

[Training Ground Guru @ground_guru]

The FA have estimated that this new app could save coaches one day a week in admin time 👀

You tap the microphone & deliver feedback into your phone. AI then delivers a polished report in less than 60 seconds...

https://t.co/mjF23UfBG6

[Marc Walters @MarcWalters4]

Well done my mate, some achievement. Keep working hard 🫡🫡💛💙

[Mansfield Town FC @mansfieldtownfc]

🏆 With 21 goals and 15 assists, Josh Walters is the club's Academy Player of the Season! 💫

Congrats, Josh! 👏

#Stags 🟡🔵 | @MTFCAcademy

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

.... "education is embedded in them from a young age," adds Brighton's academy manager Ian Buckman. "We talk about hard work, discipline and respect as our academy values. We expect them to work hard on the grass, work hard in the classroom and work hard in the gym.”

Buckman estimates more than 100 academy players have gone on to professional contracts at Brighton and elsewhere over the past decade. These include Robert Sanchez, Ben White, Jayson Molumby, Aaron Connolly and Alex Cochrane amongst others. “We've got some great lads in some of the lower leagues at the moment. I spoke to Isaac Hutchinson at the weekend who scored for Cheltenham and Lorent Tolaj who scored for Plymouth at the weekend.”

George Cox left for Fortuna Sittard, Volendam and Swindon and is now at his home-town club, Worthing. “Drops in the office the other day,” Buckman recalls. “He's 28, and says, ‘I started my coaching badges with you and now it's something I'd want to continue’. So can we help with him?” Of course.

That’s Brighton’s culture, the tone set from the top. “We have incredible ownership and leadership. Paul (Barber, CEO) has Vision 2030 where he talks about setting us up for the next decade and the academies for the boys and the girls very much sit at the heart of that. They want us to try and be amongst the best in the world. We work really hard at that.” It’s also important for FFP as well as identity. “Exactly,” Buckman agrees.

Of owner Tony Bloom, Buckman adds, “He's a tremendous support for us. He's obviously a Brighton fan and a Brighton man. He's really passionate about what we do. He knows in detail the players in the pathway, 16s up to 21s. I always say to the families (of academy players) that it’s probably very rare (to have such an attentive owner).

"No disrespect to the other clubs, but you see some games on the telly where it's ‘oh, it's the first game the owner's been to for six months or three years’. Our owner will be inquisitive about the Under-9s group, where they're from and how they play. That really captures how interested he is and how passionate he is. So when you have that from the top, for us, it's incredible.”

Brighton's youngsters thrive on the leadership’s ambition. “Paul and Tony are talking about Europe and Champions League, and it's exciting that these boys could be part of it. It's important to get that balance: the tradition of where we've been and the ambition of where they want to go. We always stress the club journey.” That journey included treks to play home games at Priestfield and an athletics stadium at Withdean, debts, points deduction and languishing down the pyramid until Chris Hughton got them up in 2017.

Under Bloom and Barber, Brighton have been the model of a well-run club. But it’s important new signings know where Brighton have come from. “Whenever we do inductions, we'll always start off with the values, we'll always start off with the club journey,’’ Buckman adds. “We'll always make people aware of that. There are a lot of people that work here who worked really hard to help the club survive.”

So they emphasise not to take the magnificent training ground facilities for granted. “The spa upstairs, and everything else they have in the building, they're respectful and appreciative of those things, and understand everything, the women do too. And now it's up to us to write the next chapters of the story.” #BHAFC 2/2

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Brighton & Hove Albion are regularly praised for getting things right on and off the pitch. So here’s a glimpse into one area. Culture. A lot of Brighton’s academy work is “player-led”, encouraging responsibility-taking. So when Jack Hinshelwood was given his first-team debut by Roberto De Zerbi three years ago, he could cope - at 18. The pathway continues. Another Worthing-born player is midfielder Harry Howell, who joined the club aged seven, was in the Under-18s at 14, and has already played seven times for Fabian Hurzeler – at 17.

When academy players are called across to the first-team pitch at training it’s clearly not just to make up the numbers. “It’s for their long-term development,” Hurzeler says. It’s also for the team’s benefit. Hurzeler, like De Zerbi before him, gives them a chance to shine. “The pathway is very clear for the players,” says academy manager Ian Buckman. It’s Brighton’s culture.

Whether under De Zerbi, who hosts his old club today with Spurs, or now under the youthful and very impressive Hurzeler, Brighton’s culture is “about developing people as well as players”, adds Buckman. This central quality of taking responsibility is key to their education as people and development as players. It’s embodied in Hinshelwood’s ability and willingness to play different positions, and his hunger for self-improvement in doing his coaching badges. He got his B licence at 20.

I joined Buckman and Under-21s head coach Shannon Ruth in watching a game at academy training this week. One thing that was immediately apparent was how player-led it was. The coaches were there, making the occasional tactical tweak or observation or straightforward encouragement, and the players listened intently. The focus, though, was very much on the players taking responsibility, getting on with the game.

Buckman points to the education they receive, and a culture that encourages players to do their coaching badges in promoting responsibility-taking. “Jack will be an excellent coach,” Buckman says. “He has great knowledge of the game. A lot of the boys come through like that. Jack would have a footballing background with the family (third generation pro), obviously, and would live and breathe the game.

“In terms of our younger players, you're trying to get them to areas to be more player-led within training. The players will speak and deliver within analysis meetings. You start to see a different type of player, slightly more inquisitive, questioning more about the game, more engaged in their individual development plans. They want to take accountability and responsibility for what they do.” On and off the field.

It’s why Hinshelwood could step from the academy and take charge in a range of roles, and why there are high hopes for Howell and for defender Freddie Simmonds. Attackers Tyler Silsby and Aidan West are amongst other academy players to contribute to a collective 600 training session involvements with the first team this season. “A lot of players go across,” Buckman smiles. “Some like Harry and Freddie…that might be 30, 40, 50 appearances. They're always keen to involve the 18s and 21s. We've even got an Under-16 who's been up and around the first team for training. It just makes it really real for them.”

Mentoring then comes from senior players like Danny Welbeck (also tactically with Hinshelwood), James Milner, Lewis Dunk, Pascal Gross, Adam Webster and Jason Steele, amongst others. “That's one of the magical pieces that we have,” Buckman adds. “We're lucky with some good role models with the senior players who educate them.” #BHAFC 1/2

[Mansfield Town FC @mansfieldtownfc]

📰 Over 1,300 tickets have already been sold for Mansfield Town under-18s’ blockbuster FA Youth Cup third round clash against Arsenal at One Call Stadium tomorrow (7pm kick-off).

Read our preview ahead of the contest. ⤵️

#Stags 🟡🔵

[Mansfield Town FC @mansfieldtownfc]

🏆 Join us for our FA Youth Cup third round tie against Arsenal which will take place on Monday 15 December at One Call Stadium.

#Stags 🟡🔵

[Marc Walters @MarcWalters4]

It’s been a fantastic start to the season and November we kept the standards sky high. The boys have been on fire! Big moments, big performances, big progress. 💛💙

Proud of the programme, proud of the players 🚀🔥

[Mansfield Town FC @mansfieldtownfc]

⚽ Are you 16-18 years old and interested in pursuing your passion for football by combining professional football training with high-quality sports study?

If so, Mansfield Town’s education programme could be for you!

#Stags 🟡🔵

[Marc Walters @MarcWalters4]

Well done Josh

[Mansfield Town Academy @MTFCAcademy]

🏆 Josh Walters collects his LFE October Goal of the Month award for his superb finish against Kidderminster Harriers.

Congratulations, Josh! 👏

#Stags 🟡🔵

[Marc Walters @MarcWalters4]

@stugroz Told him to take his helmet off!! 😂

[Marc Walters @MarcWalters4]

Well done kid, proud of you! 🤝

[League Football Education @LFEonline]

🏆 𝗚𝗢𝗔𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗛 | 𝗢𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟮𝟱 🏆

The winner of LFE’s Goal of the Month competition for October is Joshua Walters of @mansfieldtownfc!

Joshua’s sublime chip versus Kidderminster Harriers picked up 29% of the votes.

Congratulations, Joshua 👏

#LFEGOTM ⚽️🚀

[Mansfield Town FC @mansfieldtownfc]

📅 Mansfield Town under-18s will face Barnsley in the FA Youth Cup second round at Oakwell Stadium on Friday 14 November.

ℹ️ All supporters can attend this Friday's cup tie for FREE.

#Stags 🟡🔵

[Marc Walters @MarcWalters4]

MOMENTS OF THE MONTH OCTOBER ⚽️
Some unbelievable goals and top performances from our Mansfield Town Education Programme lads 👏

Proud of the progress, the togetherness & the work rate on and off the pitch 🙌
👉 Find out more & apply here:
🔗 https://t.co/hbaC2CWY5Z

[Mansfield Town Academy @MTFCAcademy]

📋 Our under-18s’ XI to face Port Vale today in the Youth Alliance League (11am kick-off).

Good luck, lads! 👊

#Stags 🟡🔵

[Marc Walters @MarcWalters4]

Good luck boys 🤝

[Mansfield Town Academy @MTFCAcademy]

📋 Our under-18s’ XI to face Stockport County today in the Youth Alliance League.

Good luck, lads! 👊

#Stags 🟡🔵

[Marc Walters @MarcWalters4]

Superb performance from the boys 👏👏👏

[Mansfield Town Academy @MTFCAcademy]

🌟 Our under-18s secured a fine victory earlier today, beating Walsall 3-1 at RH Academy courtesy of goals from Josh Walters, Toure Murray and Jayden Chambers-Morgan.

Well played, lads! 👊

#Stags 🟡🔵

[Mansfield Town Academy @MTFCAcademy]

⏸️ Dan Organ and Josh Walters’ goals at RH Academy are the difference between the two sides at the break.

#Stags 🟡🔵

[Mansfield Town Academy @MTFCAcademy]

📋 Our under-18s’ XI to take on Preston North End this afternoon at RH Academy (12pm kick-off).

Good luck, lads! 👊

#Stags 🟡🔵

[Richard Cooper @coops0927]

A proud moment for both Jakub and our Football Club. A lot of hard work has gone into enhancing our Education programme. Well done everyone! 🧑‍🎓💛💙⚽️

[Marc Walters @MarcWalters4]

@KeiranC14 Go on KC lad 👏

[AFC Wimbledon Academy @AFCWAcademy]

Dear academy players,

If you work hard enough, remove all doubt and controllable distractions, dreams can come true.

Love the academy management.

#afcw
#homegrownandhungry