Colin Watts Interview

John Landamore recently took the opportunity to grab a few words with Youth Development Officer Colin Watts. Colin seems to have been at Colney a lifetime now and John was interested to find out how it all came about (and a lot more).

Q. Colin, tell us a little about your playing career. I started playing competitively at about 12 years of age for YMCA Lads. I was a nippy little forward and I remember scoring 12 in a game once. I represented Norwich and Norfolk schoolboys at Under-14 and Under-15 and was invited to join Norwich at the age of fifteen. I spent four years playing for the third team and the youth team before being released at nineteen, being considered too small for a centre forward. I can only remember two players from the Youth team who made a career out of professional football - Dave Stringer and Mike Sutton (Chris' dad). I went on to play Eastern Counties League football for Great Yarmouth, Thetford and Gothic and played Sunday football for Unity - the top side in those days. I was proud to make a record number of appearances for my County and also to captain the side on many occasions. I finished my playing career at the age forty playing for my works side Norwich Union.

Colin Watts

Q. When did you come back to start your association with the youth set up at Norwich? It was July 1991 when I was invited by then Youth Development Officer Gordon Bennett to join Sammy Morgan, Mike Sutton and John Waters to coach at the clubs Centre of Excellence at Trowse. At the time I was manager of the successful Poringland Wanderers youth side and Gordon asked for a game. We not only won the game against a side that included Ade Akinbyi and Jamie Cureton, but played in a manner that obviously impressed him - hence my invite. I assisted John with the Under-14's to begin with and took over the team when John stepped down. In those days we only ran schoolboy teams at U14's, U15's and U16's. I had a great start in my first year when I took the Under-14 team (including a certain Danny Mills) to play in the prestigious Milk Cup Tournament in Northern Ireland. We not only won the tournament but picked up awards for the most sporting team, the best manager and the player of the tournament. The Man Utd team, including Beckham, Scholes, Savage and the Neville brothers, managed by Nobby Stiles won the U16 Tournament. In October 1993 Mike Walker gave me the opportunity to join the club on a full time basis and fortunately I am still here.

Gordon Bennett

Q. I am glad that you mentioned Gordon. Knowing full well that Gordon keeps a watchful eye on FONCY through the website, what can you say about him that we can print? "Hi GB great first five years not so good thereafter" - he will know what I mean. Firstly I am very grateful to him for inviting me back to Norwich City. There is only one Gordon Bennett - some say thank goodness - he was a one off. Eccentric, unpredictable, moody, dishevelled (until he had to buy a suit when he became Chief Executive) and totally committed to youth development at Norwich City. He was a workaholic. Sammy, Mike and I were his disciples. He loved to play matches - we travelled everywhere for a game - Leeds on a Sunday, Glasgow for a weekend and Holland for a weeks training camp. His driving (when he had a licence) became legendary. Heading down one way streets, reversing up motorway slip roads, driving on newly laid tarmac and steering with his elbows whilst spinning his spectacles were all events we experienced. Many other stories are available.

Although fearful of him, the kids loved him and so did we. Rules changed, restrictions became greater and Budgets tighter and in March 1996 Gordon moved on to greater things.

Q. Those early years with Gordon were down at Trowse, how does the set up at Colney compare? There is obviously no comparison. Trowse had a good Sports Hall and one decent pitch. As you know we had to play all our matches on the UEA Sports Field. I remember you on the touchline with your twin daughters supporting Robert Green, Alex Allen, Kevin Parker, Coren Hardy, Tommy Henderson and your particular favourite Darren Way in my Under-14 team. Now at Colney, we have the use of some of the best facilities in the country. The Academy Arena is magnificent and we are so lucky to have such tremendous facilities.

Colney Training Centre

Q. So what does the job of youth Developement Officer entail? My main responsibility is the identification and recruitment of local young players from Under-7's to Under-16's. I have a network of scouts who cover the County and beyond within the allowed one hour travelling time, who report into me on a weekly basis. Summertime is especially busy with tournaments around the County to cover every weekend from the end of May to the end of August. No garden centres for me at the weekends - thankfully. Trials have to be run and decisions made. This sometimes entails the worst part of my job - telling the young player and his parents in the best possible way that he hasn't made the Academy. Only recently I had to give such a decision and mum, dad and the player were all in tears in my office. It just emphasises what it means to be an Academy player. A part of my job I really enjoy is the coaching of the Under-7's and Under-8's in preparation for the selection of the Academy Under-9 intake. The Under-7's come in once a month and the Under-8's every week. My other main responsibility is the management of all kit and equipment for the 100 Academy players, 25 staff and 8 teams. Not the best part of my job, particularly the sizing up and ordering of the training kit for Under-9's to Under-16's, but somebody has to do it.

Q. Looking back Colin, what players who you have introduced to the club have given you the most satisfaction? I got great satisfaction seeing Hendo, the Jarvis brothers and Michael Spillane making their debuts, but probably Jason Shackell has given me the most satisfaction as he has made the biggest impact so far. I spotted Jason at quite a late age playing for North Herts Under-15's against Inner London at Bishops Stortford. It was good to hear the Manager talk of him as being a future captain of the team. Q. Looking at the current crop of schoolboys, do you see more City stars of the future? It wouldn't be right to single out individuals but I feel in each age group we have two or three lads who stand out from the pack who have a good chance of progressing to the top.

A young Jason Shackell

Having said that, I will mention our latest international Declan Rudd. As you know Declan is our Under-16 Goalkeeper who has been selected to play for England in the forthcoming Victory Shield match against Scotland. As a matter of interest I rejected Declan as an outfield trialist and persuaded him to play in goal. Not a bad decision.

Colin shows off his "Hendo" boots while on tour with a youth squad in Belgium

Q. Is there anything that I have missed that you would like to add? No, I have said enough about me. I am just very lucky to be working for a club I have supported since I was a boy and getting paid (although not a lot) for my hobby. John, if you fall out with the Gas Board contact Michael Parkinson he might need a stand in! Seriously, thank you for the interview and thank you for FONCY's and in particular your own magnificent support over the years. Many thanks also to Colin for taking the time to talk to John.