Nick Chadwick has been appointed to a key youth development role at Everton
New Everton player development lead coach, Nick Chadwick. Image: Everton FC
New Everton player development lead coach, Nick Chadwick. Image: Everton FC
Everton’s rising stars will receive bespoke guidance from one of the club’s own after the return of Nick Chadwick. The 42-year-old, who rose through the club’s first team to play alongside the likes of Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell, is now set to provide his experience to the academy ranks at Finch Farm after being appointed as player development lead coach.
The role will involve working with players in the Under-21s and Under-18s to tailor development plans and help them move into senior football, both on loan and with the first team.
It means Chadwick will take charge of the pathways of starlets including England Under-19s captain Harrison Armstrong and Isaac Heath, who scored on his competitive debut for loan club Accrington Stanley last week.
Chadwick, who made his Blues debut off the bench in a League Cup tie against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in September 2001, is back at the club after two years as Wrexham’s head of player and pathway development through the club’s rise into the Championship.
He said: “It feels absolutely brilliant to be back at Everton. It’s obviously a club I know well and it’s great to be here and be part of the academy.
“I had a good playing career and I’ve had a coaching career that so far I have thoroughly enjoyed with loads of experiences along the way, coaching young players and helping them along their own journey.”
The one-time forward is hoping to use his experience as a player to shape the futures of the club’s brightest starlets. Chadwick scored three times for the Everton first team and more than 50 goals in a career that spanned clubs including Plymouth Argyle, Chester City and Shrewsbury Town.
He said: “I’ve been along the path that they are on, and I know the first-team manager and the staff, and I know what’s required at this football club.
“I know 100 per cent what David Moyes demands from players and that’s a message that I’ll be trying to get through to the young players.
“I’ll be helping individual players. Ultimately, we are all here to make them better and I’m no different, but my role will be around specific players and individual performances and nothing to do with team selection or what tactics the teams will play.
“II’ll be involved in small group sessions and one-on-one sessions. I’ll also be analysing the progress of our players who go out on loan.”
Chadwick’s backroom career began in Everton’s academy before he moved to youth development roles at Plymouth Argyle, Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic ahead of senior roles at Fylde and Rochdale.