Everton Academy Director Joel Waldron recently spoke to us about his role and the Academy's vision...
Tell us about your pathway to your current position… I joined around the outset of the EPPP (Elite Player Performance Plan, a concept driven by the Premier League and the clubs aimed at increasing the number and quality of players coming through the system). I was fortunate enough to learn a lot from Alan, and subsequent Academy Directors, supporting them in my role as Head of Academy Operations.
After previously working on a part-time basis in recruitment I turned full-time in 2011 as Academy Co-ordinator alongside Alan Irvine, who was then Academy Director.