Tim Dudding Joins as Full Time Academy Manager

Wed 12 Jun 2024 - 7:00PM

Tim Dudding Joins the Club as Academy Manager

Tim Dudding is a very popular face around the Lamb as a member of Andy Peaks’ management team. As 1st Team Head Coach, he has played a major part in the Lambs success over the past 2 seasons.

We are delighted to announce that Tim will be joining the club in a full-time capacity as our new Academy Manager from 1st July, subsequently taking charge of the scholarship programme from 1st August. Tim will also continue his duties as 1st team coach alongside his new position.

Tim brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked in Football and Education programmes for the previous 8 years. Recently, Tim set up the nationally recognised AFC Rushden & Diamonds scholarship provision when he was Head of Football at Moulton College in Northamptonshire - a role in which he first worked alongside Manager Andy Peaks. Currently he is the Higher Education Coordinator at Plymouth Argyle FC, managing the academic partnership with Plymouth Marjon University. In his first season in Plymouth, Tim managed the Performance Football offering that achieved a historic treble, gaining promotion into Tier 1 of BUCS [British Universities and Colleges Sport]. Tim holds a Master’s Degree in Sports Coaching Science and is currently studying part time for a Ph.D. in Coach Development at the University of Worcester.

Tim is really excited to be taking on this role and being based at the Lamb full time. “I have loved every second of my two years at the Club and this exciting role will enable me to be at the Lamb every day with a view to developing a pathway from U7’s to the 1st Team. It ties the Academy closer to the 1st team and as Academy Manager, I will be working with the scholars during the day and the 1st team at night. I will lead the scholars coaching and education programme as well as oversee all the coaches that work with the different age groups.”

With the change of Academy Management structure there will also be a relaunch of our U23/Reserves Team. This will work under closer oversight from the first team management with a view to accelerating talented players through a structured pathway. In addition, any first team players that require game time will be able to play for the reserves under the enhanced oversight.

With Tim joining full time, Scott Rickards, who has performed a fabulous job in the role, will step away from his focus on the Academy to devote more time to his General Manager and Commercial activities at the club.

Speaking about Tim’s new role at the club, Manager Andy Peaks commented, “This is a real coup for the club and is a sign of our growing professionalism. I have known and worked with Tim for a number of years – he is a fantastic coach and probably one of the finest coaches that I have worked with, both as a player and a manager. He will now be at all our first team training sessions as he won’t have the long drive from Plymouth, and with him being at the club everyday it will be great for the Academy and Scholars. I am also delighted that Champs (Neil Champelovier) will be with us next season as Assistant Manager. He and I have a great working relationship from our time at Rushden, and he has been part of the journey since I was appointed in Feb 2022. I trust him massively, especially when I am away watching games and he takes charge of training. Champs and I will be able to work with Tim as we start to build a real level of progression from the Academy, Scholars and U23s, right through to the first team."

Completing the Management line up for the 2024/25 season will be Gary Pryce (Goalkeeping Coach) and Manzu Cain (Sports Therapist).