Recent first-team debutants Chido Obi and Harry Amass have paid tribute to the club’s Academy coaches.
Presented with their debut frames in Carrington’s Graduate Lounge, the two teenagers were reflecting after watching their names be put up on the wall alongside some of the greats of football.
Every Academy graduate's name is added to the wall after their debut — a tradition that connects them to footballing legends such as Duncan Edwards, Sir Bobby Charlton, and George Best, as well as their teammates who’ve gone just before them.
Chido made his United bow in February’s Premier League fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Harry following exactly one month later away at Leicester City. Both have since appeared at Old Trafford as well, with Amass earning his second start in our recent defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Asked whether there was anyone in particular they’d like to acknowledge as they arrived at this major landmark in their young careers, both players picked out the same coaches: Travis Binnion, U21s lead coach, and Adam Lawrence, who manages the U18s.
“Trav and Adam have been really helpful,”
Obi said.
“Every time I needed help, I spoke to them or called them [and] they gave me advice. When I play games, they sometimes take me to a meeting to show me what to do better, so it’s good.”
Obi joined United last summer and has had a whirlwind first few months at the club, playing across several Academy age groups in a plethora of different competitions before his first-team chance.
Amass, on the other hand, has been at the club for an additional year. He also enjoyed a stellar first season, earning the opportunity to participate in first-team training and be part of travelling matchday squads as his U18s performances contributed to an unprecedented trio of trophies.
Amass was part of last season's U18s side, who lifted three trophies. You can watch the journey of their season in MUTV Originals' 'Lifeblood: Climbing the Mountain'.
“When I first signed it was about developing as a player and getting better, it was about enjoying my football, which I’ve done with all the trophies and experiences in the Academy,”
Harry reflected.
“Then it was about playing first-team, being around it, getting a chance, and that’s come as well, so I think all the reasons I signed have happened.
“There’s loads of people [I’d want to thank] but I’d shout out to both of my two main coaches.
“Adam Lawrence, when I first joined, him being from down south, there was that connection straight away, he made sure I was settled and was always someone I could go to if I needed something. And as I got more comfortable, he helped me on the pitch. In that first season in U18s I really excelled and a big part of that was him, always making sure I was doing the right stuff.
“As I went to U21s football, I think Travis helped me a lot, working with me on stuff on and off the pitch, he was always on me for the right stuff and I think he’s made me better. I know they both care, so it means a lot.”
Of course, Chido and Harry have now been followed by Academy graduate number 254, Tyler Fredricson. The Manchester-born defender has had to be patient for his opportunity, having first had exposure to the senior set-up as an unused substitute back in September 2022.
Fredricson acquitted himself excellently on debut and will soon follow his team-mates in watching his name put up on the wall in the Graduate Lounge.