Newcastle’s Ben Dawson: helping academy players deal with challenge of moving from the ‘top three’ in the U23 group to the ‘bottom three’ in the first-team squad

Player | Journey | Ben Dawson | 7.7.22

U23 players need individual support, mentoring and coaching to deal with the challenge of stepping up into the first-team environment, says Newcastle United first-team development coach, Ben Dawson (pictured). Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images

Learning:

-  How to help young players deal with the challenges that come with transitioning between age-groups

-        Helping academy players deal with the psychological challenge of moving from the ‘top three’ in their group to the ‘bottom three’ in the first-team squad

-       Technical and tactical challenges that players face when they move up age-groups

U23 players need individual support, mentoring and coaching to deal with the challenge of stepping up into the first-team environment, says Newcastle United first-team development coach, Ben Dawson.

“I think the final step from U23 to first-team has changed a bit,” explains Dawson, who was promoted to Newcastle’s first-team set up in July 2021, after previously working as the Head of Coaching and U21 coach in the club’s academy.

“Now, I think there's almost an interim level where you make the step from the U23s to become part of the first-team training squad. From there, you might get the opportunity to play in the first team or you might go out on loan.”