Marvee Woods Football Academy Podcast

On this episode, I’m joined by Bryan Bull the Academy Manager of EFL League Two team Gillingham FC. Bryan has managed the Gillingham academy for over 25 years and has seen players like Ryan Bertrand and others come through the ranks. Bryan in Episode 30 shares his thoughts on the release process. Letting me know that he feels that unlike most other industries. Academy football has aftercare progra...

On this episode, I’m joined by Bryan Bull the Academy Manager of EFL League Two team Gillingham FC. Bryan has managed the Gillingham academy for over 25 years and has seen players like Ryan Bertrand and others come through the ranks. Bryan in Episode 30 shares his thoughts on desire. Bryan says that players who have a desire for the game catches his eye. This Episode is Sponsored by Resonance Ener...

On this episode, I’m joined by Bryan Bull the Academy Manager of EFL League Two team Gillingham FC. Bryan has managed the Gillingham academy for over 25 years and has seen players like Ryan Bertrand and others come through the ranks. Bryan in Episode 30 shares insights into youth development, training, and the intricacies of managing young talent in professional football. Bryan also shares how dat...

On this episode, I’m joined by someone different to my usual Academy Manager guests. A well respected man in the recruitment side of football. He is responsible for discovering players like Djed Spence and more. Mr Martin Carter, the Head Of Academy Recruitment at EFL Championship club Middlesbrough FC, who also played for the club's academy as a 12-year-old schoolboy, joins me on Episode 23 of my...

Snippet: Alex Inglethorpe, the Academy Director of Liverpool FC, tells me on Episode 5 of my Podcast. That youth development is when you add value to a player and more

For episode 29 of my podcast, to coincide with the World Cup, I decided to do something different. On this episode, I chose to focus on how MLS academies in North America work. The MLS is more than a league with teams. The MLS is a Franchiser that owns all the teams in the MLS. All the teams in the MLS are called franchises. They are all franchises of the MLS. There are no promotions or relegation...

For episode 29 of my podcast, to coincide with the World Cup, I decided to do something different. On this episode, I chose to focus on how MLS academies in North America work. The MLS is more than a league with teams. The MLS is a Franchiser that owns all the teams in the MLS. All the teams in the MLS are called franchises. They are all franchises of the MLS. There are no promotions or relegation...

For episode 29 of my podcast, to coincide with the World Cup, I decided to do something different. On this episode, I chose to focus on how MLS academies in North America work. The MLS is more than a league with teams. The MLS is a Franchiser that owns all the teams in the MLS. All the teams in the MLS are called franchises. They are all franchises of the MLS. There are no promotions or relegation...

For episode 29 of my podcast, to coincide with the World Cup, I decided to do something different. On this episode, I chose to focus on how MLS academies in North America work. The MLS is more than a league with teams. The MLS is a Franchiser that owns all the teams in the MLS. All the teams in the MLS are called franchises. They are all franchises of the MLS. There are no promotions or relegation...

I am excited to share Episode 29 of my podcast, a special World Cup edition focusing on the inner workings of MLS academies in North America. In this episode, I learn about the unique structure of the MLS as a franchiser, and not a league and how that impacts team operations, including the absence of promotion and relegation. My guest is Trevor Singer, the Academy Scouting Director for D.C. United...

For episode 29 of my podcast, to coincide with the World Cup, I decided to do something different. On this episode, I chose to focus on how MLS academies in North America work. The MLS is more than a league with teams. The MLS is a Franchiser that owns all the teams in the MLS. All the teams in the MLS are called franchises. They are all franchises of the MLS. There are no promotions or relegation...

For Episode 29 of my podcast, to coincide with the World Cup, I decided to do something different. On this episode, I chose to focus on how MLS academies in North America work. The MLS is more than a league with teams. The MLS is a Franchiser that owns all the teams in the MLS. All the teams in the MLS are called franchises. They are all franchises of the MLS. There are no promotions or relegation...

For Episode 29 of my podcast, to coincide with the World Cup, I decided to do something different. On this episode, I chose to focus on how MLS academies in North America work. The MLS is more than a league with teams. The MLS is a Franchiser that owns all the teams in the MLS. All the teams in the MLS are called franchises. They are all franchises of the MLS. There are no promotions or relegation...

For Episode 29 of my podcast, to coincide with the World Cup, I decided to do something different. On this episode, I chose to focus on how MLS academies in North America work. The MLS is more than a league with teams. The MLS is a Franchiser that owns all the teams in the MLS. All the teams in the MLS are called franchises. They are all franchises of the MLS. There are no promotions or relegation...

For Episode 29 of my podcast, to coincide with the World Cup, I decided to do something different. On this episode, I chose to focus on how MLS academies in North America work. The MLS is more than a league with teams. The MLS is a Franchiser that owns all the teams in the MLS. All the teams in the MLS are called franchises. They are all franchises of the MLS. There are no promotions or relegation...

Snippet: Alex Inglethorpe, the Academy Director of Liverpool FC, tells me on Episode 5 of my Podcast. That youth development is when you add value to a player.

I’m joined by Matt Hancock the CEO of EFL League 1 team Port Vale, on Episode 27 of my podcast. Matt tells me about pathways and academy depth charts. These depth charts compare players from under-9 to under-18, noting their attributes, strengths etc and are rag rated based on their potential readiness for the First Team. The depth charts are created for every position. So, let's say all the strik...

I’m joined by Matt Hancock the CEO of EFL League 1 team Port Vale, on Episode 27 of my podcast. Matt tells me about adapting to unexpected changes, facing difficult times and overcoming challenges. We also discuss what drives him and the power of visualisation.

I’m joined by Matt Hancock the CEO of EFL League 1 team Port Vale, on Episode 27 of my podcast. Matt tells me that he’s seen some good players not fulfil their potential because they thought just having talent was enough. Matt says that young players need self motivation to have a career in football.

I’m joined by Matt Hancock the CEO of EFL League 1 team Port Vale, on Episode 27 of my podcast. Matt tells me that First-Team managers are under so much pressure to deliver results. With their jobs on the line, they are more inclined to give experienced players a chance ahead of an academy graduate. This is one of the challenges faced at Port Vale and the club is trying to change it's philoshy to...

I’m joined by Matt Hancock the CEO of EFL League 1 team Port Vale, on Episode 27 of my podcast. Matt tells me about the dilemma of exceptional young talents breaking into the first team early. Academy players with exceptional talent have been bought by Premier League clubs before they got the chance to play in the Port Vale First Team. Big clubs buying young talented academy players before they pl...

I’m joined by Matt Hancock the CEO of EFL League 1 team Port Vale, on Episode 27 of my podcast. Matt shares with me his journey to becoming a club executive. He discusses the importance of adaptability, hard work, youth development, the sustainability of lower league academies and strategic decision-making in football management.

I’m joined by Matt Hancock the CEO of EFL League 1 team Port Vale, on Episode 27 of my podcast. Matt tells me that he believes football clubs should have academies and develop youth, after I asked him about the sustainability of lower league clubs financially funding academies. More in my comments Full Episode: Friday May 22nd 2026 (6pm)

I’m joined by Matt Hancock the CEO of EFL League 1 team Port Vale, on Episode 27 of my podcast. Matt tells me that the club invests around £800k yearly in the academy alongside the Premier League's (EPPP) funding. With so much money invested in the academy. The club wants to produce more players to benefit and impact the First Team. Full Episode: Friday May 22nd 2026 (6pm)

I’m joined by Matt Hancock the CEO of EFL League 1 team Port Vale, on Episode 27 of my podcast. Matt tells me that there are currently 180 boys in the academy. He says that although it would be ideal, it's highly unlikely for a player to go straight from under 9s all the way through the age groups into the First Team. Full Episode: Friday May 22nd 2026