Roy Massey: A Life in Football and a Coach to the Stars
In this compelling memoir, Roy Massey tells the fascinating story of his 50 years in football as a player, coach and scout, including a long spell at Arsenal during the Wenger glory years. As a player, Massey overcame a series of injuries to score goals for Rotherham, Orient and Colchester only for another serious injury to end his career at an early age. Unperturbed, he became a PE teacher and combined this with behind-the-scenes work to discover and nurture talent at Colchester United and later full-time at Norwich, where he helped the Canaries as they revolutionised their youth programme. When the FA agreed to allow clubs to attract and train children from eight years upwards, it was Massey whom Gunners legend Liam Brady asked to join him at Arsenal in 1998 as assistant academy manager. Over the next 16 seasons Massey helped build a new academy structure that would unearth and develop a wealth of young talent capable of playing at the top of the football ladder. Massey later scouted for three Premier League clubs.
Roy Massey has collaborated with Mark Metcalf to write his life story. Football historian Mark is the author of numerous books on the beautiful game, including the authorised biography of Charlie Hurley, Flying Over an Olive Grove: The Remarkable Story of Fred Spiksley, Manchester United 1907-11 and The Origins of the Football League: The First Season 1888/89. He has written for the Sunday Mirror and worked for the PFA.
Author: Roy Massey
Format: Hardback, 288 pages, 160mm x 240mm
Published: 2023, Pitch Publishing Ltd, United Kingdom
Genre: Autobiography: Sport
In this compelling memoir, Roy Massey tells the fascinating story of his 50 years in football as a player, coach and scout, including a long spell at Arsenal during the Wenger glory years. As a player, Massey overcame a series of injuries to score goals for Rotherham, Orient and Colchester only for another serious injury to end his career at an early age. Unperturbed, he became a PE teacher and combined this with behind-the-scenes work to discover and nurture talent at Colchester United and later full-time at Norwich, where he helped the Canaries as they revolutionised their youth programme. When the FA agreed to allow clubs to attract and train children from eight years upwards, it was Massey whom Gunners legend Liam Brady asked to join him at Arsenal in 1998 as assistant academy manager. Over the next 16 seasons Massey helped build a new academy structure that would unearth and develop a wealth of young talent capable of playing at the top of the football ladder. Massey later scouted for three Premier League clubs.
Roy Massey has collaborated with Mark Metcalf to write his life story. Football historian Mark is the author of numerous books on the beautiful game, including the authorised biography of Charlie Hurley, Flying Over an Olive Grove: The Remarkable Story of Fred Spiksley, Manchester United 1907-11 and The Origins of the Football League: The First Season 1888/89. He has written for the Sunday Mirror and worked for the PFA.