Young footballers across Herefordshire and the wider area have been given a huge boost, with news that a new, independently run Hereford Development Centre is to open.
A number of coaches, including Hereford Lads Club’s first team manager Danny Moon are involved in the plans.
In a statement shared with Your Herefordshire, a spokesperson for the Hereford Development Centre said:
“In response to the sudden announcement by Herefordshire FA on 26th February 2024 that they will no longer be continuing with the Boys Development Centre (BDC), we are thrilled to announce that a small team of coaches and professionals have been working extremely hard behind the scenes to ensure we can still provide the opportunity to showcase the talent we have within our County.
“We are now able to officially announce that the new centre will partner with Hereford Lads Club who have kindly offered to administer and provide all our welfare/safeguarding requirements to enable us to reach required deadlines to affiliate ready for next season and most importantly to keep a Boys Development Centre here in the city.
“The rebranded “Hereford Development Centre” will continue to use the HFA and Lads Club facilities, as with the previous centre. We will however run the centre independently, with the aim to ensure the enthusiasm and talent within our community continues.
“Our goal in creating the Hereford Development Centre is to provide a dynamic platform for young athletes to harness their skills, foster teamwork, and continue to play at a high level amongst other high achievers within Herefordshire.
“This initiative is a testament to our commitment to nurturing talent and promoting a positive sporting culture within our community.”
“So, what will Hereford Development Centre offer?
“Commitment: We are committed to developing the talent within our community.
“We have an exciting team of volunteers with vast amounts of experience.
“Two local football ambassadors will play a big part in ensuring we meet our goals as a Football Development Centre. Danny Moon, current First team Manager at Hereford Lads Club, has been appointed Operations Director. We are extremely lucky to have him onboard as he has many years of experience working at all levels within the game; he has already devoted 20+ years to football within our City.
“We are also excited to have James Edmonds as the Head coach for the centre.
“James is a very experienced coach who has had an exceptional coaching career coaching within Hereford and is currently the u14s BDC Coach. He has had recent success in guiding the Hereford u18s to silverware in the MJPL Cup in 2022.
“A Centre for All: We have volunteers from all clubs around Herefordshire as we want to attract all players regardless of who their grassroots club may be.
“The leagues in which our teams will participate in will not interfere with the excellent work our grassroots teams provide within the County.
“On our elected committee we currently have representation from Pegasus, Tenbury, Westfields and Lads Club. Demonstrating that we wish to be a centre for all.
“MJPL League: The teams (consisting of U12’s to U16’s) will participate in the Midland Junior Premier League every Saturday, with organised fixtures against similar development and talent centres in the region.
“Professional Coaching Team: Our team of experienced and certified coaches are all FA qualified, including the assistant coaches, meaning they will and must maintain coaching standards, first aid and safeguarding qualifications.
“Quality Training: The Hereford Development Centre will provide twice weekly training sessions, which is a step up from the one session which is typical at grassroots level. These will be held at state of-the-art 3G pitches to ensure continuity of development throughout the season.
“Coaches will follow an FA approved technical syllabus with a key focus on improving all aspects of player performance across in possession, out of possession and transitional topics. Specialist goalkeeper training, with FA qualified GK coaches will also be carried out.
“We will be conducting trials and releasing dates and information shortly. This is so we can ensure we provide the best opportunity for these talented athletes to showcase their talent and be given a chance to be a part of this exciting Development Centre.
“Furthermore, Hereford FC have been forthcoming in ways they can provide support to the organisation. They have kindly confirmed that they will continue to provide complimentary match tickets for the boys and allow the player of the month to be awarded at a home game.
“We believe that Hereford Development Centre will not only provide a platform for sporting excellence but also contribute to the overall development of our young athletes. We are eager to witness the growth and success that these teams will undoubtedly achieve.
“If you have any immediate questions, or believe you can contribute to the success of the organisation, please reach out to: hello@hereforddevelopmentcentre.co.uk”
