Former u16s managers take on new roles at Crawley Down Gatwick

Both former U16 Managers Howard Griggs and Richard Hughes have agreed new positions at Crawley Down Gatwick.
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An U18s side, under new manager Chris Presland, has been introduced after a gap of several years and will next season be playing in the Southern Combination Youth League.

The team will train alongside the first team, providing a pathway to the first team for the club’s best youngsters, and will be based around the current U16s team.

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And the club have now announced that this season’s U16s managers, Howard Griggs and Richard Hughes, who have carried the team through from U6s, are remaining at the club in new roles which will strengthen the structure of a club with 21 junior teams – including five new girls’ sides – supporting the first team and U18s.

Richard Hughes and Howard GriggsRichard Hughes and Howard Griggs
Richard Hughes and Howard Griggs

Hughes, a former Crawley Down first team player, will take on a new role of Junior Development Officer, helping Chris Presland with recruitment and supporting the current junior managers in ensuring the club’s best young players have a guided pathway through the club towards first team football.

Griggs, meanwhile, will take on another new role of Club Coach Mentor, offering support to all of the club’s junior managers and coaches from U5s to U16s. He will also take on a junior registration role as well as continuing to coordinate junior pitch allocations.

Griggs said: “We are proud of the set-up we have at Crawley Down. Our junior section is one of the best in the area, providing a safe haven and quality coaching for boys and girls. These new positions will strengthen our structure and provide important support to all our club coaches. Chris Presland, with Ben Abbott as assistant-manager, is an excellent appointment and Crawley Down Gatwick is now a very attractive proposition for young players with the ambition to fast track into senior football.”

For more on football at Crawley Down Gatwick contact Howard on 07762 915723 or Richard on 07721 782000.