NEW VISION, NEW MANAGEMENT
We are extremely excited to announce our new first team management line up…
Steve Melledew joins the club as First Team Manager, along with Lee Malham as Assistant Manager and First Team Coach Paul Taplin.
The appointment fits perfectly with the club’s new vision of introducing young players into the adult game and developing the next generation for success with Reading YMCA and in their own football journeys.
On his appointment and the project, Steve had this to say…
“I am really excited about this opportunity and a chance to work at such an historic and well respected club. YM have worked hard to establish links with other clubs that will see a number of young players coming in over the summer.
Some of these boys will move on a higher level in the future and we can equip them with the tools to do that. Our coach, Paul Taplin, will be providing Step 4 standard coaching to develop the players and myself and my assistant Lee Malham will create the environment and build the mindsets to prepare them for higher levels.
I have been out of the game for a year due to personal circumstances after winning the cup double in my last season with Burghfield FC. This opportunity has come at the perfect time and the vision YM have set out is totally in sync with mine. YM have won 5 league titles in the modern era which is only 1 behind the record of 6 held by Forest Old Boys, who in a twist of fate were my main rivals when myself and Lee played for Mortimer. We are building for success over the next 2 to 3 years, the pitch is great, the facility is high end for Step 7, everything is there and our job now is to get things right on the pitch and wake the giant!”
Chairman Mark Lemm commented…
“Getting Steve, Lee and Paul on board is a real coup for the club. They are an elite team at Step 7, know the league and have a proven track record of success.
We have a strong product off the pitch for our level and we wanted people who match the energy and commitment of our club volunteers and will galvanise the club, we now have that with Steve and his team.
This summer will see a big influx of talented young players and we will be investing in them to move their development forward and hopefully bring us success at the same time.”
