LFA advert:LFA advert 01/04/2010 13:48 Page 1 Issue 11 - April 2010 News from League Football Education Touchline In this issue: Competitive Edge Live | Club Profile - Swindon Town | PFA Coaching Watford Wonderkid Lee Hodson LFE is a partnership between The Football League and The Professional Footballers’ Association. League Football Education Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence League Football Education Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence Apprenticeof news t h eM o n th aJ n u a yr2 0 1 0 This is to certify that the nam League Football E ed apprentice has been nom ducation Apprentice of the Month: inated Apprenticeof Callum Wilson t h eM o n th Coventry City Certified by: February2010 nated the named apprentice has been nomi This is to certify that rentice of the Month: League Football Education App Charlie Mann Crystal Palace Certified by: Previous Apprentice of the month winners for the 2009-10 season are: January Callum Wilson Coventry City December Apprentice Danny Taberner Rochdale November of the Month Lee Hodson Congratulations go to Charlie more recently against Wolverhampton Watford Mann of Crystal Palace as Wanderers in the FA Cup 4th round replay live on ITV. October February 2010 Apprentice Charlie has maintained progress with the Edward Adjei of the Month. educational elements of the Apprenticeship, Peterborough As a first year Apprentice, goalkeeper undertaking additional units to complete United the National Diploma and working ahead of Charlie has been an instrumental part of September schedule on the NVQ log book. He has been the Youth team in between the sticks, Ashley Palmer an excellent Apprentice all round, operating featuring in all Academy matches as well Scunthorpe in such a high pressure position as a young as Reserves games. The young keeper has United also made appearances for the first team, goalkeeper. 2 WEB PERSON BLOG TWITTER VIDEO Got a story? Want to share news with other LFE partners? email: [email protected] EMAIL PHONE Several teams made an excellent start to the season battling it out for first place in the Youth Alliance and Academy Leagues. At the time of writing Southend United had taken the lead in the South East conference closely followed by Queens Park Rangers after Colchester United slipped down the table. While in the South West conference Swindon Town have surged in to a six point lead over Bristol Rovers. Preston North End have regained top spot in the North West conference after a spell trailing Shrewsbury Town. Hull City still remain in pole position with York City hot on their heels along with last year’s champions Chesterfield still in contention for the top spot in the in the North East conference. In the Academy League Leicester City still remain unbeaten at the top of the Group B table with a seven point lead over second placed Tottenham. Nottingham Forest trail Sunderland by six points at the top of Group D and Crystal Palace and Newcastle United chase Chelsea and Arsenal for the leadership of Group A. Youth Alliance & Academy League Round-Up (Images courtesy of Dan Matthews) 3 news In total we received 23 applications for A further application has been made Leonardo the three available spaces giving our to Leonardo for funding in 2011/12. panel judges a tough decision, however, Should this be successful we expect to after careful consideration the successful be in a position to provide opportunities Pre-Season Clubs chosen to take part in this year’s for a further three Clubs (minimum) to European Pre-Season tours are: experience a tour in 2011. LFE have also Tours 2010 • Crystal Palace secured funding for individual player • Huddersfield Town placements with European Clubs for March and June 2010. A big thank you to all Clubs • Aldershot Town Once again we’d like to thank you for who applied for this year’s LFE appreciate that this decision will be your continued support of LFE and our disappointing to many Clubs. However Leonardo Pre Season Tours initiatives. opportunity, we were very we are continually looking to increase opportunities to Clubs in the future and pleased with the positive strengthen our links throughout Europe. response we had from Clubs. lfe.org.uk/progression/leonardoWEB 4 PERSON BLOG TWITTER VIDEO EMAIL PHONE WEB PERSON BLOG TWITTER VIDEO Got a story? Want to share news with other LFE partners? EMAIL email: [email protected] PHONE Stakeholder Feedback FA Youth LFE would like Cup to thanks all Round-Up stakeholders for their continued Aston Villa and Newcastle United will battle it out feedback through to face Chelsea in The FA Youth Cup Final after the our online London club disposed of Blackburn Rovers 5 - 0 on questionnaires. aggregate in their semi final encounter. The feedback we receive Chelsea had taken a one remains very positive and the goal advantage back to Villa and Newcastle are results from the most recent Stamford Bridge after a feedback report on Apprentice scheduled to meet on tight first-leg at Ewood Reviews, VLE & Support were 8th April at Villa Park - courtesy of own-goal very pleasing. with the return leg at from Tom Hitchcock, Scores for each theme covered St James’ on 16th April. son of former Chelsea in the questionnaire for Villa reached the last four keeper, Kevin. And back Apprentices was ‘good’ or after coming through better for all questions, as were at the Bridge it was a lead they a penalty shoot-out at the responses from Club Staff never looked like relinquishing, with Fulham in their Quarter Final tie and Education Providers. goals from Marko Mitrovic, Gokhan while Newcastle secured their spot All sample targets of 35% Tore and a Jacopo Sala double after a 4-2 win over Crystal Palace were exceeded, which further providing them with a comfortable at St James’. enhances the reliability of passage to the final. outcomes and continues to demonstrate excellent levels of stakeholder and LFE tinyurl.com/yzdu4urWEB responsiveness. PERSON BLOG 5 TWITTER VIDEO EMAIL PHONE Apprentice Profile Hodson Buzzing with Hornets During a period of transition at Vicarage Road, the emergence of right full-back Lee Hodson has proved to be a major plus point in a see-saw campaign for Watford. 6 Lee Hodson A regular in Malky McKay’s I was starting afresh and it was first team appearances for the would have thought, but he’s Reserve side last season, someone who didn’t know me. club and penned a new three stood up to every game and Hodson made his debut for the I honestly didn’t expect to get a year deal only last November. he’s been exceptional,“ Hornets in their final fixture of run of games in the first-team, International recognition has he added. the 2008 - 09 season when I thought I’d maybe get a also come in the form of a Nominated for The Football replacing Arsenal loanee Gavin chance in the League Cup or call-up to the Northern Ireland League Championship Hoyte in a 3-1 victory over maybe get on the bench a few U21 squad and McKay for one Apprentice of the Year Derby County. times. Luckily for me players is delighted by the progress of Award it seems Hodson can Having hoped to come into left the club and with us having his protégé. do little wrong at present contention this season, his a few injuries the Manager “Young Lee has been and the defender is keen to cause was not harmed by decided to give me a chance.” exceptional since he stepped acknowledge the club’s role in the promotion of McKay to After impressing in the League up into the first team,” his development, he said: replace outgoing boss Brendan Cup in August against both said Mackay. “To have Malky McKay as the Rogers last June, with the new Barnet and Leeds Utd, McKay “He’s been immaculate as Gaffer has been great because Manager fully aware of the promoted the youngster a professional footballer, he he knew how I operated but youngster’s capabilities. The into his first team squad and was a 17-year-old coming into more importantly he believed sale of Mike Williamson and watched him go. Establishing the group who because of in me, which gave me the subsequent injury to captain himself as a first-team regular, circumstances has probably confidence to go out there and Jay DeMerit boosted his Hodson has now made over 25 pushed in quicker than he play at this level. The step up opportunities to stake a claim from the youth and reserves for a regular first team slot but sides is huge and when you get as he readily admits even he has to first team level it’s simply a been surprised by his progress results orientated business but this term, he said: the coaches here have been “When I came back for pre- brilliant in preparing me for season my first focus was just that step, now I just hope I can to work hard and try to impress repay their faith by putting in the gaffer as though good performances.” tinyurl.com/ya52bl9 WEB WEB www.lfe.org.uk/news/hornets-progress-for-hodsonPERSON BLOGPERSON 7 BLOG TWITTER VIDEOTWITTER VIDEOEMAIL PHONEEMAIL PHONE “It’s important that whatever stage you’re at in your career, you think about the future, it would be naïve not to! “It’s probably not at the forefront of your mind while you’re still playing but the earlier you start preparing the easier it will be move into a new career once those days are over.