Description
Book SynopsisIn this compelling memoir, Roy Massey tells the fascinating story of his 50 years in football as a player, coach and scout, including a long spell at Arsenal during the Wenger glory years. As a player, Massey overcame a series of injuries to score goals for Rotherham, Orient and Colchester only for another serious injury to end his career at an early age. Unperturbed, he became a PE teacher and combined this with behind-the-scenes work to discover and nurture talent at Colchester United and later full-time at Norwich, where he helped the Canaries as they revolutionised their youth programme. When the FA agreed to allow clubs to attract and train children from eight years upwards, it was Massey whom Gunners legend Liam Brady asked to join him at Arsenal in 1998 as assistant academy manager. Over the next 16 seasons Massey helped build a new academy structure that would unearth and develop a wealth of young talent capable of playing at the top of the football ladder. Massey later scouted for three Premier League clubs.
Trade Review"A fascinating memoir, Roy recalls signing a boy called Harry Kane but ultimately deciding he did not have what it took to make it at the top level... 'Nobody on the staff argued that I was making a mistake.' Indeed, it took so long for anyone to recognise the potential of England's record goalscorer that Tottenham also let him go, taking him back only after he impressed playing against them for Watford's academy team."
* Backpass magazine *
