Life after Newcastle United can be tough for young players but a Tyneside entrepreneur is looking to support players facing new challenges
Rebecca Duff from Tenacious Talent, with brothers Rory (left) and Harry Powell
Rebecca Duff of Tenacious Talent, with brothers Rory (left) and Harry Powell(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
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A Tyneside entrepreneur is hoping that a new venture can help ease the pain of being released by professional clubs and prepare for a potential life after football.
Rebecca Duff launched her new company, Tenacious Transition, at the turn of the year, and it has already won high praise from Premier League and Championship clubs. With strong links across the industry, Duff is aiming to help youngsters move on to the next step if their dream of making it with a top club suddenly slips off the radar.
Having worked with Newcastle and now finding herself involved with Middlesbrough and Sunderland, Duff told Chronicle Live: "We wanted to make sure that there was support available to players, so we started to look at what was already in place and what business we could develop to sit alongside the support already offered within academies to develop players.
"Academies have player care teams in place, who do amazing work, but with the Premier League and EFL mandating three years of post-support, this puts unrealistic expectations on player care teams to support released players, especially those at CAT2 and CAT3 academies, where the player care team often consists of one person.
"Having spoken to academies from all levels, one thing stood out - all academies want to do more but do not have the resources or budgets to be able to do what's needed. This is where organisations like Tenacious Transition can step in to support."
Back in 2024 twin brothers Harry and Rory Powell were handed professional contracts by Newcastle United. But their joy would soon turn to uncertainty after being released.
Duff stepped in to work with the brothers, with Harry and Rory now plying their trade with Ashington. Harry said: "Rebecca is a lifeline to have as a contact around the time an academy player is released.
"From my personal experience, I can hand on heart say she’s done everything she said she would, and for this I can’t thank her enough. From the moment I was released from Newcastle Bex was there ready to take next steps on the road that lay ahead."
Rebecca Duff from Tenacious Talent, with brothers Rory (left) and Harry Powell and Bowmer + Kirkland Project Manager Tommy Dixon.
Rebecca Duff from Tenacious Talent, with brothers Rory (left) and Harry Powell and Bowmer + Kirkland Project Manager Tommy Dixon(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
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The twins featured in Newcastle's FA Youth Cup team not too long ago but now face a different challenge. Rory said: "From being released from Newcastle United's academy last June, Bex was in contact with us straight away and was working with us closely, helping us look at different avenues for our next steps.
"Alongside all of this, providing us with advice and guidance on the different options we have looked at pursuing.
"Because of this I can’t thank Bex enough for making the transition from professional football into the workplace as seamless as possible. They are also supporting us look at options within football as well and I can't thank her enough."
Former Newcastle star Sean Longstaff enjoyed a sparkling Toon career after rising through the Academy and making his debut under Rafa Benitez before being part of the Carabao Cup-winning squad. Longstaff netted in stellar fixtures such as the Champions League win over Paris St-Germain.
But having watched other team-mates be told they were going to be release, he knows the fragile nature of life as a professional player.
The Leeds star, who left Newcastle in 2025, said: "Having been in an academy from the age of nine, I saw first‑hand what release was like for team-mates I’d trained with for years. It was painful, sudden and not something anyone wanted to see happen to young players.
"That’s why the work Tenacious Transition is doing is so important. It's a business that really supports, guides and mentors young players as they navigate the release process.
"More academies should be offering this, because no young person should have to navigate that moment alone."
Newcastle United's Sean Longstaff (left) and Matty Longstaff at St James' Park in 2019
Former Newcastle United's Sean Longstaff (left) and Matty Longstaff at St James' Park in 2019(Image: PA)
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Longstaff's younger brother Matty also underlined the importance of player after care. The North Shields lad burst on to the scene and scored a dramatic winner over Man United in 2019.
After stints at Mansfield, Aberdeen and now Montreal Impact in Canada the 26-year-old star said: "I was one of the lucky ones. I enjoyed my time at the academy and have achieved a professional career off the back of my experiences.
"I have, however, seen friends experience being released, and for some, this has not been an easy process to go through.
"Businesses like Tenacious Transition who are set up to support players pre and post release are absolutely needed at all levels of academy to ensure that players have more skills and knowledge prior to release but also have dedicated support during the release process to be able to move forward with a positive plan."
The company could soon support other young players in the North-East who find themselves released. Duff said: "We have just launched a partnership with Sunderland Academy where they will be going into the academy between now and the end of the season to deliver workshops on business start-ups, property development.
"We are offering 1-1 support and giving the payers access to employer experience days. Working with the academy team, we will be reaching out to the Alumni players who have previously been released to offer them 1-1 support to explore opportunities open to them in the local area and access to athlete employer pathways with nationally recognised organisations.
Rebecca Duff from Tenacious Talent
Rebecca Duff of Tenacious Talent(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
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"This is not isolated to just football all players experiencing release, injury or retirement will struggle to adjust to no longer playing the sport they have spent so many years dedicated to and for this reason it has a huge impact on mental health. The support provided by TT and its partners which consist of Amazon, The non-league network, working minds, Spark Design Academy, Howell Media and many more is to ensure that no player has to navigate transition whatever shape this takes alone. We are determined to ensure that players have the support needed to thrive beyond their sport.
"I have one ask of anyone reading this article . . . if this resonates with you or your organisation, then reach out. I am keen to discuss partnerships with organisations from the North-East and beyond. Academies do not have the funding needed to facilitate this support for players, and the founder of Tenacious Transition is determined to ensure that this is available to all, as the players should be provided with this support at no cost to them.
"Being involved in the support of young athletes can feed into your social values campaigns and make for a great story."
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