The club have appointed Jimmy Unwin as the under 18s Lead Coach following his departure from Cambridge United.
Peterborough United are delighted to confirm the appointment of Jimmy Unwin as the club’s new under 18s Lead Coach after over five successful years at Cambridge United, where he was the lead PDP Coach, helping to develop a host of players into professionals as well as steering the U’s to some notable successes in the FA Youth Cup, including an eye-catching victory over Chelsea.
Unwin will take his first training session with the under 18s this week ahead of the FA Youth Cup first round tie at Crewe Alexandra on Thursday evening. He admitted it was difficult to leave after a successful stint with the U’s, but the opportunity to join Posh was too good to turn down, particularly given the step up in Category status.
Academy Manager Dan Robinson said: ‘We are delighted to have Jimmy join us as the u18s lead coach. Following a robust recruitment process that included over 40 applications, Jimmy stood out as a top coach and great person to lead our youth team helping develop them on and off the pitch.’
Unwin said: “I felt it was the right time for a new challenge and when the opportunity arose at this football club, it was one that excited me. There were other opportunities elsewhere, but the chance to work at within a Category Two Academy was obviously a massive appeal and I am based in Chatteris, so it also worked for family reasons.
“There are a lot of good staff at this football club. I know Kieran Scarff well and he was a big part of me coming to the club. In the last couple of weeks, the under 18s have faced Manchester City and Burnley and that is exciting to be playing those kinds of fixtures. The group of players is a good one and I am looking forward to getting onto the training ground with them and imparting my ideas, but Hugh-Alban Jones has done a good job, you can see the rapport he has with them.
“I might have been working for Cambridge for the last five years, but I have a real connection to this football club. I have seen a lot of good players here that have come through the Academy system like Matthew Etherington and Simon Davies and there are players now in the first XI like Harrison Burrows and Ricky-Jade Jones who are real role models for the youngsters today. They get the opportunity to watch them train and eat with them in the canteen.
“Ronnie Edwards was at a Category Three Academy at Barnet, and he has stepped into a Category Two here and flourished in the first team. Those players can inspire the next generation,” Unwin said.
You can watch the full interview with Unwin on Posh+.