Ben Dawson – Newcastle United’s First Team Development Coach – has agreed to lead the club’s U21 coaching team as part of the Academy’s ‘new-look Professional Development Phase.’
The 41-year-old has bags of experience at Academy level, arriving as a development coach in 2014 before guiding our second string to the Premier League 2 Division Two play-offs and the finals of the Premier League Cup in an 18-month spell between January 2018 and June 2019.
He was then promoted to first-team affairs in 2021, however his new role will now see him ‘work closely with Eddie Howe and his coaching staff, bringing the club’s first team and Academy even closer together and enhancing the club’s talent pathway.’
Dawson will replace Elliot Dickman – who left his role as U21 boss last month – and has the backing of sporting director Dan Ashworth, who described the highly-rated coach as an “outstanding” appointment who can help our youngsters make the step up to senior level.
Speaking to NUFC.co.uk, here’s what Ashworth had to say about the Academy changes and Dawson’s appointment:
“Ben is an outstanding coach.
“He understands the Newcastle United DNA and he knows better than anyone what is required for players to make the step into Eddie Howe’s first team squad.
“It’s brilliant for the club and our young players that we have someone so aligned with the first team that can help our young players make that next step.”
After landing the job on a permanent basis, here’s what Dawson told the club’s official website:
“I’m delighted to be given the opportunity and responsibility of leading the under-21s once again and hope that my recent experiences with the first team can help align the professional development phase to the first team.
“Covering the role alongside Neil (Winskill) on an interim basis has allowed me to see the significant and positive changes that have happened at the Academy and evidence how rapidly the club is progressing across all departments.
“I’m looking forward to putting into practice what I’ve learned during my time with the first team.”
