Nick Cox: There is much more to achieve

Youth development very quickly became more than just a business plan after it was first introduced here in the 1930s, and over the last nine decades, it has certainly transformed into something else – a way of life, you could say.

As Director of Academy, I’m aware that, of all things at Manchester United, it is our youth programme which connects us directly to our rich history, and that you expect to see young players coming through into the men’s first team. I’m proud to say that I believe this club surpasses all others in our commitment to young players.

We’ve been fortunate to celebrate several landmarks recently. In 2019, it was the 4,000th consecutive game with an Academy graduate in the matchday squad. In 2022, we acknowledged 90 years of youth development at the club. Now, with Ethan Wheatley’s debut on Wednesday, we can proudly recognise our 250th graduate.

This 250 marker is special. But what I think makes it so special is that it’s not been manufactured. It’s not a stunt. It’s something – just like the run of 4,000-plus games – that has been achieved organically as a consequence of our commitment to youth, as a consequence of that way of life.

As staff at the Academy, it is an absolute privilege – one we are aware of every day – to have the opportunity to protect the legacy of those who came before us. Jimmy Murphy and Eric Harrison are the two most famous, but there are also dozens of others, and we know that this is Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy, too.

I promise you, it’s not a pressure to follow in these incredible people’s footsteps, it really is a privilege.

Now, we are celebrating a landmark of debuts this week and, while we always celebrate a first-team debut, I’m always keen to point out that focusing solely on these markers isn’t a sensible thing to do. We are fortunate to have hundreds of children in our care and the Academy’s mission is to provide life-enriching experiences for all of these kids. We want to be a safe place that, through football, opens up opportunities for them that they never could have imagined. We strive to maintain a child-like experience, rejecting premature professionalism.

To define the success of a young person's engagement in a football club by debuts alone is crazy! And not something football clubs really do. I firmly believe that debuts are in fact a welcome byproduct of purposeful young people taking ownership and maximising the opportunity of a wonderful learning environment.

However, a debut also offers an opportunity to celebrate extraordinary achievement. For every one of those 250 there is a unique and incredible story. It began with boys from Salford and Manchester and then Busby and Murphy welcomed in kids who played on the streets of Ashington, Belfast, Dublin, Dudley, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff and further afield. Then Sir Alex Ferguson brought in the modern era in which we’ve been fortunate enough to work with young players who first dreamt of playing for United while kicking a ball around in Paris or Madrid.

Each player has their own story to tell of highs and lows. Of that cup final goal. Of being picked for the first time. Of a grandad who played with them in the park, an aunt or uncle who took them to their first game, a teacher who inspired them, parents who drove the length of the country, a mate who lent them a first pair of boots, and often a sibling that stood in goal for ‘just one more free-kick’.

All 250 of these lads were ordinary boys with a dream and a determination to achieve something extraordinary.

They then made a debut. Now, a debut doesn’t mean a career, but it is a significant landmark for any young player and a moment they’ll never forget. I think most look back on their debut as the most important and memorable game of their lives.

Ethan’s week is a great example of what can happen at this club. He was at Wembley on Sunday, in first-team training on Tuesday afternoon, scoring two goals in the U18s’ final that evening and making his senior debut the following night. That’s a moment that has required a lifetime of dedication from him and the staff and family who have helped him on the journey, but also a week where the Academy and first-team staff worked brilliantly together to make sure all our players are maximising the opportunities available to them. That will continue week in, week out, normally behind the scenes rather than for the world to see. And that work will ensure that we continue onwards to 251, 252 and beyond.

As for Ethan, he was back at school on Thursday morning! That’s how it works at Manchester United. And just as Ethan was back working hard looking to the future the day after his debut, we at the Academy are already focused on ensuring these stories continue to be added to.