Academy Appoint New Head of Academy Coaching.
Peterborough United are delighted to announce that Tony Cook has been named as the club’s Head of Academy Coaching following Danny Walker’s appointment as the Senior Professional Development Phase Lead Coach last month.
Cook has had an extensive career in football, with over 20 years experience in academy football, including spending the last four years at Doncaster Rovers as Academy Manager, while also spells at Coventry City and Nottingham Forest.
He started his new role last Monday (23rd January) and expressed his excitement about joining the club and helping academy players progress through the set-up, and eventually into the first team.
“I’m really excited to be here,” Cook added. “I have known Kieran for a number of years and worked with him previously at another club. I started last Monday and delighted with what I have seen already with the Foundation Phase, Youth Development Phase and Professional Development Phase in the standard of coaching and players, the facilities are fantastic and have a really good programme.
“One of the roles and responsibilities with my role is working with staff as people and coaches and in turn, they will work with the players. My primary task is to work with the staff to help them develop and work on their journey, developing the programme as the structural programme we have now is very good. So, it’s just looking at how we develop the support environment that the coaches try to create, how we develop the players and also the staff.
“The club like to promote academy players from within and they’re not frightened to do that, and that’s why I’m here, to produce homegrown players. There’s nothing better as a coach to see a young player go through all the phases and step out at the stadium, and have a fruitful career at this club or even at another club.”
Academy Director Kieran Scarff said: “I’m extremely pleased to have Tony at the club. I have worked with him before in his capacity as a Head of Coaching at a previous club. He’s very experienced, with four years as an academy manager alongside over 20 years in full-time academy football. His experience, knowledge and character will be a massive asset to the programme."