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© Marvee Woods 2025
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Interviewing professionals about their experiences in football academies 🎙️⚽️
172 Episodes
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On this episode, I’m joined by someone different to my usual Academy Manager guests. A well respected man in the recruitment side of football. He is responsible for discovering players like Djed Spence and more.Mr Martin Carter, the Head Of Academy Recruitment at EFL Championship club Middlesbrough FC, who also played for the club's academy as a 12-year-old schoolboy, joins me on Episode 23 of my podcast and tells me.That he thinks player profiling is ludicrous. Martin believes clubs should not limit themselves when recruiting players because they might miss out on potential gems.Full Episode: Friday April 10th 2026 (6pm)
On this episode, I’m joined by someone different to my usual Academy Manager guests. A well respected man in the recruitment side of football. He is responsible for discovering players like Djed Spence and more.Mr Martin Carter, the Head Of Academy Recruitment at EFL Championship club Middlesbrough FC, who also played for the club's academy as a 12-year-old schoolboy, joins me on Episode 23 of my podcast and tells me.That it’s no surprise that Quarter 4 players are favoured less by clubs, because they are born 11 months behind Quarter 1 September born players. Which in most cases, gives them an advantage. Martin advises that clubs should not bank on this short term thinking when recruiting. He suggests that, clubs should visualise the future, to a time when players growth and maturity will all balance out as they eventually reach their potential adult size. At that point all Q1 to Q4 born players will look similar. This is when technique and other qualities will be more important than how big or physically developed players are.Full Episode: Friday April 10th 2026
On this episode, I’m joined by someone different to my usual Academy Manager guests. A well respected man in the recruitment side of football. He is responsible for discovering players like Djed Spence and more.Mr Martin Carter, the Head Of Academy Recruitment at EFL Championship club Middlesbrough FC, who also played for the club's academy as a 12-year-old schoolboy, joins me on Episode 23 of my podcast and tells me.That he recruits players on instinct. He doesn’t like watching players repeatedly, he can tell within 60 seconds if it’s a player he wants. Martin talks me through his process of discovering a 15-year-old Josh Coburn. The striker who eventually reached the Middlesbrough First Team was sold to Millwall in June 2025. Coincidentally, Josh returned to Middlesbrough on Good Friday April 3rd, 2026, and scored two goals to help Millwall win 2-1 against Middlesbrough. The result dented Middlesbrough’s Premier League promotion push. Taking Middlesbrough from second to third and Millwall from third to second in the EFL Championship table. Full Episode: Friday April 10th
On this episode, I’m joined by someone different to my usual Academy Manager guests. A well respected man in the recruitment side of football. He is responsible for discovering players like Djed Spence and more. Mr Martin Carter, the Head Of Academy Recruitment at EFL Championship club Middlesbrough FC, who also played for the clubs academy as a 12 year old schoolboy, joins me and tells me on Episode 23 of my Podcast.That a lot of young players are blinded by great facilities and they should be ready to adapt and play football anywhere, because conditions are not the same at every club.Full Episode: Friday April 10th
Byron Anthony, the former defender, now Academy Manager and currently the Interim First Team Assistant Head Coach of EFL League Two club Bristol Rovers FC tells me on Episode 22 of my Podcast.About the sacrifices he made to sustain a long term career. Not only when he played in the Cardiff City youth ranks. Also when he went on to become Bristol Rovers longest serving player, making nearly 200 appearances in defence in the Rovers First Team. Whilst helping the club to gain a promotion to League One along the way.
Byron Anthony, the former defender, now Academy Manager and currently the Interim First Team Assistant Head Coach of EFL League Two club Bristol Rovers FC tells me on Episode 22 of my Podcast.That with the release and retain period for all academies around the corner in April. He finds it to be an intense time and lets me know the Bristol Rovers process when making release and retain decisions.
Byron Anthony, the former defender, now Academy Manager and also currently the Interim First Team Assistant Head Coach of EFL League Two club Bristol Rovers FC tells me on Episode 22 of my Podcast.That different departments within the club will be involved in the registration of a successful Trialist. This usually involves a staff vote to determine who should be registered for the club after a trial.
Byron Anthony, the former defender, now Academy Manager and also currently the Interim First Team Assistant Head Coach of EFL League Two club Bristol Rovers FC tells me on Episode 22 of my Podcast.That the club will not register a player who is on trial. Even if they are good enough to be in the age group that they are trialing in, because the club takes into consideration whether or not the Trialist has the same qualities as a player in the age group above or below.The club will not block the pathway of a talented player already registered at the club who has similar qualities to the Trialist.
Byron Anthony, the former defender, now Academy Manager and also currently the Interim First Team Assistant Head Coach of EFL League Two club Bristol Rovers FC tells me on Episode 22 of my Podcast. About his journey from youth player to coaching, emphasizing the importance of discipline, mindset, and development pathways in football. Discover how Bristol Rovers is shaping future talent and the key qualities for success in football academies.
Byron Anthony, the former defender, now Academy Manager and also currently the Interim First Team Assistant Head Coach of EFL League Two club Bristol Rovers FC tells me on Episode 22 of my Podcast.That the identity of the First Team and Academy is built on B.R.F.C which is a synonym of Brave, Resilient, Forward Thinking & Collaborative.These are the characteristics the club looks for in the players registered at Bristol Rovers. Full Episode: 27 March 2026 (6pm)
Byron Anthony, the Academy Manager and also currently the Interim First Team Assistant Manager of EFL League Two club Bristol Rovers FC tells me on Episode 22 of my Podcast.That 80% of the game is mindset. Making quick decisions on the pitch, dealing with the ups and downs of the game. It all requires mindset.
Byron Anthony, the Academy Manager and also currently the Interim First Team Assistant Manager of EFL League Two club Bristol Rovers FC tells me on Episode 22 of my Podcast.That it takes discipline, sacrifice and consistency to accomplish what you want not only in football, but in life. Byron believes that many players do not make the grade because they are lacking in these three areas.
Robin Nicholls, the Academy Manager of Premier League club Sunderland AFC tells me on Episode 21 of my Podcast.That elite players are consistent in their actions on the pitch. Robin says that Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka is the perfect example of an elite player.
Robin Nicholls, the Academy Manager of Premier League club Sunderland AFC tells me on Episode 21 of my Podcast.That some of the academy players have ADHD and SEND needs and the club have a protocol in place to cater for those players
Robin Nicholls, the Academy Manager of Premier League club Sunderland AFC tells me on Episode 21 of my Podcast.That the academy players they register at Sunderland have to have a Unique Selling Point (USP). If Grassroots players come to the club on trial and don’t have any unique stand out skill about them. The club will not take them on.
Robin Nicholls, the Academy Manager of Premier League club Sunderland AFC tells me on Episode 21 of my Podcast. About playing youth team football for Brentford, shares insights into youth development, coaching strategies, and the importance of holistic player growth at Sunderland AFC. Robin also speaks about how talent is identified, nurtured, and the role of mental and physical development in creating future football stars.
Snippet: Robin Nicholls, the Academy Manager of Premier League club Sunderland AFC tells me on Episode 21 of my Podcast.That he is not focused on whether the academy boys win or lose. His job is to develop players for the Sunderland First Team.Full Episode: Friday March 13th (6pm)
Snippet: Robin Nicholls, the Academy Manager of Premier League club Sunderland AFC tells me on Episode 21 of my Podcast.That the Under 18s on Scholarships study to be referees and more. They also do various work experiences. So if any of the players do not get offered a professional contract. They have some experiences outside of football that they can forge a career in, if they choose. Full Episode: Friday March 13th (6pm)
Snippet: Robin Nicholls, the Academy Manager of Premier League club Sunderland AFC tells me on Episode 21 of my Podcast.That academy football is not fair because all players are not treated the same in the team. Some players play in age groups above their own, others play in age groups below their own. One player might get First Team opportunities earlier than the rest of their teammates. Outcomes vary for every player.Full Episode: Friday March 13th (6pm)
Snippet: Robin Nicholls, the Academy Manager of Premier League club Sunderland AFC tells me on Episode 21 of my Podcast.That the Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus insists on making the academy a fundamental part of the club. Prioritising the academy has also had it’s benefits. The Sunderland academy, had many of it’s graduates playing a pivotal role in the Sunderland’s First Team recent success and promotion to the Premier League.Full Episode: Friday March 13th (6pm)
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