Farsley Celtic u23s have appointed former Academy coach and ex-u23s player Jake Boyd and former Goole AFC coach Mark Maspero as co-managers, both reuniting with Academy Director Lutel James.
James stated it’s the personalities of the newly appointed managers that led to their appointments, replacing Neil Ross following his appointment as first-team manager. James & Maspero worked alongside each other in the same management team at Goole AFC whilst Boyd played under James within the Academy and currently co-ordinates various age groups at Farsley Academy’s feeder club Chapeltown Juniors.
Boyd and Maspero led their first training session on Wednesday evening, beginning in a team meeting to introduce their strategies with the players.
Maspero, a UEFA B coach with an Advanced Youth Award, has coached at West Yorkshire Premiership side Sherburn White Rose, NCEL division 1 side East Hull as well as his work alongside James at Goole. He also has previous coaching experience within academy football at Scunthorpe United and Hull City. Maspero was part of the Championship winning rugby league side York City Knights’ coaching staff.
The experienced manager began his coaching within his 22 years in the army, having played to a high standard within the forces.
Boyd, an FA level 2 qualified coach, a technician according to James, runs his own coaching school JB Football Coaching, coaches at Manchester City Elite Academy and is a player-coach at Whitkirk Wanderers along with previous experience coaching within Farsley’s academy.
Boyd’s playing career led to a call-up to Farsley Celtic first-team training by previous manager Adam Lakeland whilst playing for the Academy. At scholarship level, Boyd played at Bradford City and Halifax Town until u18s before playing semi-professionally.
“Over a period of time, I’ve seen Jake and Marko grow from strength to strength in the way they deal with people,” began James.
“They’re brilliant signings for educating the players to be able to understand the game prior to playing.
The players want to know about that individualised learning. This is something they [Boyd & Maspero] bring to the club which I’m excited about, and equally, after the discussion tonight with the players, they’re [the players] excited about.
“Anyone coming into the club has to know it’s not just about your playing, it’s about your mental state of mind as well, your resilience.
“Jake is a real technician in football, one who looks at the finer details that sometimes get missed out. He’s a young enthusiastic coach who knows how to engage with players.
“Marko’s regimental and disciplined from his army background. I’ve witnessed Marko a lot at different clubs because he’s worked at Scunthorpe United, Hull City as well as in non-league management”.
From their time together at Goole, James depicted Maspero as: “even from a warm-up, he’ll be evaluating each player’s connectivity, their enthusiasm, body language, and then have a little chat to enhance their performance. That’s just in a warm-up prior to going onto the field of play. I’ve worked in football for 30 years and you only get so many people who can break down football in that kind of way.
“The relationship between the two gives us a holistic view of the attention to detail for players at this age who have outcomes of reaching the first-team. That’s what we’re presenting to a first-team and that will work in synergy with Neil Ross [also Academy Manager].
Maspero & Boyd manage their first u23s match when hosting Hemsworth Miners Welfare at The Citadel on the 29th November.