Manager praises Academy set-up at the Cat & Fiddle
With Man City’s under-18s coming to St James Park on Tuesday evening, Paul Tisdale has praised the continual improvement that has been made at the Academy during his tenure.
Coaches across all age-groups are now able to spend more contact hours than ever before with the players, meaning that their progression pathway has become clearer and that there is a fine crop of young players coming through the ranks. Speaking after the first-team debut of 17-year-old Matt Jay last Tuesday, Paul complimented the system overseen by Academy Manager Simon Hayward.
“It starts with the reputation we have,” said Tis. “The reputation we get means that players and their parents commit to Exeter rather than other clubs. It has taken us ten years to gain that reputation and every year we are beginning that process earlier with better players and better coaching.
“We have more young players in our first-team squad than we have had for a long time of our own, that are all going to be good enough to play at some point in the season.”
On surface level, Exeter City has repute for graduating under-18 Academy players into the first-team, but Tis cited the ever-increasing reputation at developing and looking after players at younger age-groups as being just as important.
“Every year we are getting better,” Paul continued. “It’s not just about the transition from the under-18s to the professional ranks – it is the improvement at the bottom of the ladder when they come into the Centres and the improvement of the coaching and the intensity of their play.”
Entry for the Tuesday-night fixture against Man City (kicking off at 7.15pm) will be £4 per adult and £1 per under-18, with all entry going through the Flybe Stand turnstile on Stadium Way. Click here for details.
Entry for the Tuesday-night fixture against Man City (kicking off at 7.15pm) will be £4 per adult and £1 per under-18, with all entry going through the Flybe Stand turnstile on Stadium Way. Click here for details.