East Dunbartonshire Football Development took a number of their staff on a development trip to Newcastle United. The club accepted their request to go down and visit the academy last Thursday (August 14th 2014) and meet a number of their staff.

Academy Manager Joe Joyce met the group and introduced them to a number of the staff including Peter Beardsley, Under-21 Manager, and Dave Watson, Under-18’s Manager. Highlights of the visit included:

•    2 hour under 18 training session delivered by Dave Watson.  
•    Q&A with Dave Watson, under 18's coach
•    Tour of the Academy facilities
•    Sat in on a video analysis session with under 17’s & 18’s squad
•     Watched an additional hour of under 18's training focussing on crossing and finishing then set play's - all focussing on their first match of the season against Sunderland on the Saturday
•    Had a stadium tour of Sat James’s Park
•    Visited the first team training facility
•    Watched the under 12's and 13's evening training
•    Had a Q&A with full time children's coach Jamie Williams

Scott Murray, Assistant Football Development Officer commented: “It was fantastic that Newcastle United allowed us to come down and view their excellent facilities and academy set up. All off the staff were fantastic, made us welcome, and were more than happy to answer the vast array of questions posed to them.

"A lot of what we saw was not much different from what you might see in a typical club session up here, however the attention to detail and preparation from the coaches shone through.”

"We have now built a successful relationship with some of the coaches and staff, and hopefully in the future we will see them up delivering at some of our local and regional coaches in service workshops and conferences."

East Dunbartonshire Football Development would like to thank the Scottish FA Central Region and East Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust who helped fund the visit.

Back row left to right. Ryan Hynes, EDLC Community Coach, Kenny McComish, Football Development Officer for West Dunbartonshire, Chris Hynes and Mark McKinven, both EDLC Trust Community Coaches.

Front row: Scott Murray, Assistant Football Development Officer EDLC Trust, Kevin Murphy, Football Development Officer EDLC Trust, Cara McBrearty, Community Coach EDLC Trust and Gary Watson, Trip Driver.