Shrewsbury Town announce highly-rated academy coach David Longwell as Town's new Academy Manager.
Shrewsbury Town announce highly rated coach David Longwell as Town's new Academy Manager.
Shrewsbury Town are delighted to announce David Longwell as the clubs new Academy Manager.
The highly experienced Academy Director & Coach spent 15 years of his career at St Mirren. He left the Saints in 2016 with the academy set-up being one of only 3 clubs including Rangers and Celtic within the country to achieve the rating of 5 or 6 stars criteria / category. The highest awards in the country.
David notably brought through a large number of young players up and into the first team.
Some of Longwell’s Graduates went on to win the Scottish League Cup with St Mirren in 2013 including current Scottish international John McGinn.
Below is a list of notable graduates during Longwell’s reign.
John McGinn (now Aston Villa)
Kenny McLean (now Norwich)
Lewis Morgan (now Celtic on loan to Sunderland)
Jason Naismith (now Peterborough)
Stephen McGinn (ex Shrewsbury, Watford)
Kyle McAllister (Derby County)
Stevie Mallan (Hibernian)
Longwell remarkably achieved player sales from academy graduates in the millions during his tenure.
Longwell’s tireless efforts at St Mirren earned the Academy a Gold Level Award for the last three years of his time at the club which was a huge achievement.
David also has every coaching qualification including the UEFA Pro Licence ,Youth Directors Award and Youth Licence.
Longwell’s next step in his career was a long trip across the pond to the MLS where he joined Orlando City as Academy Director. He spent 18 months and making history coaching the under 19s at the club making the play offs. He was then head hunted by the New York Red Bulls in August 2017 whose academy system is ranked among the best in the USA where he again improved and developed the academy program.