www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Shaun-Br ... story.html?

www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Shaun-Br ... story.html?

I think local clubs are being encouraged to become 'player development centres'. This replaces the old 'service area' structure, but requires more support from the SL club - presumably Shaun Briscoe will provide some of this support ?

Perhaps Walter has more info ?

I think I'm right in saying that this is linked with Lee Mitchell returning to the club in a community coach role. The Sky funding has given more room to move to try and boost playing figures in the town. But I'm sure he would be used in the academy development too, with his background, maybe as a stepping stone to a coaching role

I had not heard about this, is his move official as yet ?

Makes sense I think he lives on Chapelford and maybe is sick of the commute

I thought he was signed up for Batley next year ? Perhaps he is doing both jobs though.

Coming in as a Community Coach working in Primary and Secondary schools. There is Sky money being made available to every club to increase participation that is ring fenced for the next 7 years. Lee Mitchell and Shaun will be carrying out a similar role to Lee Westwood in the schools around the town.

The "Player Development Centre" idea being pushed by the RFL has recently been scrapped however their is a similar scheme going ahead under the England banner.

Thanks for that. The principle of the development centres was that the SL club provided support to the local clubs and schools rather than hoovering up all the juniors into their academies. That sounded like a good idea as quite a few clubs were complaining that they were unable to run certain age groups as they didn't have the numbers. Presumably this is still the approach then ?

That is BskyB safe guarding their future customers with investment.

Is there still sport actually played in secondary schools these days or is it all done at private after school sessions with sports clubs . I know there was a time when competitive sport was banned in schools to avoid giving inferiority complexes to the physically challenged.

Apparently the Rugby Union are after targeting every school in Britain to get their message across.

The problem with the development centres (It gets a little complicated) was that tier 1 academies which Warrington are / will be would have to align themselves with 4 player development centres and then push resources into them like coach education, further monitoring and wolves staff running various sessions. All sounds good however there are 7 amateur clubs in Warrington developing youngsters.

Say Warrington chose the big 4 by player numbers of Crosfields, latchford, Rylands and Woolston as there development centres all it would do is push kids at Cultcheth, Burtonwood and Bank Quay to go to the other 4 effectively killing off the 3 clubs not selected, reducing the number of players playing the game and offering less opportunities. This wouldn't be unique to Warrington but every other town playing the sport.

The England scheme entitled 'Embed the pathway' basically is a coach and player education system, once a few of the coaches have done the course the club becomes an England development centre but the key is that it is open to every club.

Anybody remember Kev Tam doing a similar type of thing late 80s, early 90s.

Taxi driver in the town,
Loved his fishing.
Returned to NZ and semi retired just to fish in a small dwelling he bought.
Top guy who followed his dream his whole life.

Didn't he used to work in the butchers in Stockton Heath while playing at Warrington?

That's what I'd call living in a goldfish bowl......I'll get my coat