Sunderland’s outgoing academy director has been discussing his time at the club
Sunderland's outgoing academy director Robin Nicholls says the club's pathway to the first team remains its unique selling point to young players and crucial to its plans for the future.
Nicholls, who will depart this summer to join New York City football club, has been reflecting on his four years at the club and the central role of the academy in last season's promotion.
Nicholls revealed how owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus had helped convince him to make the move to Wearside by stressing the importance of the academy to the club's project, and says the track record of giving opportunities to homegrown players continues to give the club an edge on its local rivals.
"The impact the academy had on the promotion last season is something everyone to do with the academy is really proud of," Nicholls told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"The remit coming here, Kyril was insistent the academy was a fundamental part of this club's future. Through Kristjaan and now Flo, it was about producing players for the first team. That's why we're here, that's why we exist, that's why we have 40-50 strong staff members.
"In the promotion season we had about 26% of minutes played by academy graduates, largely made up of those who were established in the team. Chris Rigg, Dan Neil, Anthony Patterson and Tommy Watson all had a big impact on the season. Not only the season but the play-off final, with Dan Neil captaining the team, Anthony Patterson being named Player of the Match, Chris Rigg becoming one of the youngest players to start and obviously the goal from Tommy.
"We're very lucky in the North East to have such a fantastic grassroots programme. There are hundreds of leagues, one of the biggest in the country operates in the North East so we're very lucky to have a good talent pool. Having said that, there's fierce competition with Newcastle and Boro down the road as well. We also share a bit of our catchment area with Leeds. Our selling point is our pathway to the first team. Not only recently but prior, Jordan Henderson and Jordan Pickford, our unique selling point is the pathway we can provide. We might not be able to compete on finances and some of the glossy bits you get in your academy journey, but if you want a place to have the opportunity to play in a first team, we feel we're the best place.
“There's a lot more than just the monetary value, it's those minutes and the impact they can have. Academy graduates in the team can be a real cost saving for the club, in terms of transfer fees and wages. When Tommy did move on there's obviously the monetary value. But beyond that there's more to it than the finances, it's what it does to the fans and the team as well.”
While promotion has inevitably reduced the number of academy players in the first-team squad, it also increases Sunderland's opportunities to recruit from abroad.
Nicholls says it is something the club is working on but that the focus will remain on the North East.
"The rules allow us to bring players from further afield at the age of 18 whereas from 16 we can recruit nationally," Nicholls explained.
"When they turn 18 we can look further afield. At the moment we have a player on trial from Asia. We've had a number of different players from different areas. The pool widens at those age groups but I do think we are a club that's really focused and based in the North East. We do want to nurture that North East talent so we can give them a pathway."
Robin Nicholls reflects on his time at Sunderland and the key lesson he’ll take
Nicholls said he hoped his legacy at the club would be those players who had an opportunity to impress at first-team level.
“Just for the younger players to be given an opportunity,” Nicholls said.
“I was very lucky to work for almost four seasons now in a club and structure that gave the boys an opportunity. We've provided the players when they're ready with that opportunity. That looks different for every player. For Chris Rigg that was at 15 years old, whereas for others it comes at 18, 19, 20.
“Giving those boys that opportunity is probably what we're most proud of over the last four years.
“The biggest thing about Sunderland is it matters. We can all work at places we like and enjoy but you get great satisfaction from a club that really matters. It matters to the city, the people, the fans, the staff here. It means something to work here. I will always look for that in the future.”
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