Shrewsbury Town

Shrewsbury Town are proud to announce the we have appointed Andy Jones as the club’s new academy manager.

Andy moves into the position that has been vacant after Steve Reece chose to step down from the role after many years with the club.

The academy manager role will see Andy oversea the whole of the club youth development programme from U8s through to the youth team.

Andy is not new to the club. In fact, he has had a long history with the club, as he’s helped out the side, in some capacity, for the last decade.

“I’ve been involved with the club for the past ten years or so in some sort of capacity whether it be strength conditioning, coaching, the education with the lads,” said Jones.

“I suppose I’ve grown up with the club really over the past ten years in some sort of respect without having too much of a huge involvement as such but little bit parts.

“Over the last year or so, I’ve been up at Shrewsbury College overseeing the educational program with the scholars and getting to know the lads and how they run, how things work.

“Moving from the college into the academy is something I’m definitely thankful of and I’m going to make sure that the partnership between us is very strong as it’s definitely a good partnership between us.”

Not only is Andy looking forward to filling the role, he also thinks that his specific skill set should allow him to adapt and perfect the role.

“It’s a great academy and I’m coming into something that’s really good,” said the new academy manager.

“I suppose my skill set over the past ten years has given me the opportunity to come in and put my own spin on the job.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge, it’s going to be a tough one but I’m looking forward to it.”

Andy believes that his role will mean him catering to the needs of the youth players, the community and in turn help out them develop into an accolade for the first team.

“I had this idea of being involved with everything, not just with the scholars, so I want to see the whole process all the way through,” said Andy.

“I want everyone to know who I am and I want to be involved in some sort of capacity. Whether it will mean taking the odd coaching session now and again, just to know the kids and be involved in their own development.

“Obviously, not just working closely with the lads who are in the academy but also with the local community, making sure we bring as many initiatives and as much work together as we can with the fabulous community that has been developed over the years.

“Also, making sure the partnerships between ourselves are very strong and just moving forwards to evidently supply the best players we can both locally and outsourced to support the first team, that is the aim.

“The aim is to get as many players through the system to support the first team and to make the first team successful.”