Phil Smart appointed full-time Academy Goalkeeper Coach
Shrewsbury Town’s Academy are pleased to announce the appointment of Phil Smart as Academy Goalkeeper Coach.
Smart returns to the club having previously worked in a similar role on a part-time basis a couple of years ago.
“We’re delighted because the club was a little bit aggrieved to lose Phil the season before when he went to Walsall”, Eric told ShrewsWeb.
“We replaced him last year with Connor Roberts who was excellent and the players loved working with, but he’s signed as a full-time player for TNS, which excludes him from working with our Under-18s.
“We’ve opted to move quickly and get Phil Smart back in and he’s someone that we imagine will add a lot of value to our set-up.”
The Academy’s recent audit has allowed them to strengthen the backroom staff and this role will now be a permanent one, something Eric is delighted about.
“Connor was near enough full-time last year in the hours that he did, but this in itself is a defined full-time role, the first time the club have had one in a number of years”, said Ramsay.
“Phil’s delighted to be able to come in and work in full-time football and give his day job up, and we are delighted to have someone that can work consistently with the Under-18s and the Schoolboy goalkeepers”
Smart was a popular figure in his previous spell at the club and Ramsay expects more of the same.
“Connor was fantastic, the players loved him, the parent’s loved him, and Phil will get the same reception”, Eric said.
“The news that he’s coming back in will be really well received and I think it’s an important one because Shrewsbury have got a really good history of producing goalkeepers from the Academy and for them to have the right attention is paramount.
“Cam Gregory got taken on last year, someone that has worked with Phil previously, so we are hoping that he is one of many to come through our system.”