06 - Crafting Champions: Inside the Mind of Port Vale Academy Director Will Ryder

In this episode of the Active Journey Podcast, we chat with Will Ryder, Academy Director at Port Vale, exploring his impactful journey in football.

From his early days as a promising player to becoming a pivotal figure in coaching and player development, Will shares insights into the essence of nurturing young talent and the importance of player welfare.

Join us as Will discusses the intricacies of creating pathways in football, his recent experiences as a manager in League One, and his visionary approach to developing the next generation of football stars.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes dynamics of football academies and the strategic development of young athletes.

Edited by Mike Roberts at Making Digital Real

If you liked this episode, and want to know more about Mark and his amazing organisation Active Sports Group, then follow him, and make sure to keep listening for more updates, discussions and sports related content!

Edited with finesse by Mike at Making Digital Real

Transcript

Mark Whitwood: 0:03

Welcome to the active Journey podcast with me your host Mark Woodward. We will embark on an inspiring journey through the lives of extraordinary individuals who've conquered challenges and reached the pinnacle of success through their resilience and determination. Through heartfelt conversations, we'll uncover the secrets to their remarkable achievements. exploring how embracing an active way of life has kept them moving forward, fueled their passion and empower them to overcome even the most formidable challenges. Today on the active journey, we welcome will ride in the academy director of Port Vale will discuss his his journey, player and coach development with a focus on player welfare and seizing opportunities. Join us as we gain insights into creating pathways in the world of football, and Will's recent experience as a manager in Ligue one. Hi, well, thanks for joining us on the active Jenny podcast. How you doing?

Will Ryder: 0:59

Yeah, very well. Thanks, Mark. I really appreciate your spending your your time here this morning with us at Vale Park and thanks for the opportunity. Yeah,

Mark Whitwood: 1:07

no, that's great. Well, we always start the podcast with the first question sort of what's your sort of belief and reason for living an active life? I

Will Ryder: 1:14

think for me, it's, it's the being activities is part of who I am. And, you know, when I, when I think back over the last 18 months or so, I've become more active and more probably, who, who I used to be, and when I'd finished playing, you know, just before I was 30, you have that purpose of being active for a reason. And I you know, if I'm completely honest with myself, I'd lost my, my, my drive in that sense. So you know, what I have done now he's made sure that I'm active on a on a regular basis. And it's the release it stills, you know, it's the the scene of the, you know, the release of endorphins, but that, that is me, I am an active person. I've tried to tie me down into a meeting sometimes can be difficult for long periods of time, because I'm, I'm always on to the next thing, but you know, from, from an activity point of view, and, you know, I like being outdoors. I like the fresh air I like it's that that sense of sense of fulfilment, as well. So yeah, that's, that's something which I've been really pleased over the last 15 to 18 months that I've become more active as a person again. And for me, that's just part of who I are.

Mark Whitwood: 2:29

Now, that's really good. Because it's so important is it for your mental health as well, like so when you're busy, and just getting that opportunity to go outside and get some downtime. And sometimes you get your best thinking sound only when you're when you're away from the day to day

Will Ryder: 2:43

100%. And that is, you know, the role that I'm in now you need that headspace. And that is something which I've been big on myself over, like I say the last 12 months, 15 months, 18 months on making sure I've got time for myself as well thinking time and creative thinking time as well. And that is generally and I'm out on a run over the fields near where I live. That's, that's generally where I do get my, my best creative thinking time. And even last night, I've been I've been in the house for quite a while yesterday, looking after me somewhat heavier. And I just needed that time on my own at 630 When I went out for 30 to 45 minute walk and jumped on a couple of calls and got some fresh air. And that's it. That's important for me, I'm I'm not I'm not an indoor person. I like to be outdoors as much as I can.

Mark Whitwood: 3:37

Here. Same here, I think. But Well, looking at what you've achieved over the years, you know, just going out for a short walk at the moment. Yeah, there was a lot more to it sort of starting at a young age wasn't there in terms of your involvement in sport and your your journey over the last sort of 2030 is like, how did it all begin? Was it back in primary school? You you started playing football? Yeah. Well, when I think

Will Ryder: 4:01

back to my younger days, I've always been involved in sport, football predominantly. Or, you know, when when I was younger, I was always involved in their school teams. Whether that was, you know, your team sports, whether it was individual where you're, you're starting to take up new sports as well, when you get to high school and you're playing badminton and you're out doing cross country running and, you know, and the days of thinking about, you know, participating in athletic events, and I always found that I was good at that, but I always enjoy the team element. And football has always been my my sport. And you know, even when I think think back to my younger days that the academy systems changed now massively compared to when I was younger and it was a centre of excellence scheme then we probably only trained I think maybe once an evening, and I was in a waggon at the time as well. an eight year old, and I shouldn't have even been there we found out years later because I was training and playing with the elevens. And every year I had to drop down a year. And you know, the the I then being on the nine then training with the under 10s. And then I finally got to be on age group. And I'd already had some years experience in then again, I think I remember going back to primary school age and thing could have been a year three cleaning the year six team, because that's just what what it was at that stage. The school only had one football team, and it was predominantly made up of your year 60s, but I was in there as a year three. So that age without sounding like a blow me on trumpet. Yeah, I was I was good. And then, you know, things catch up. And when I ended up being I think he was 12 I got released by Wigan and you know, you have setbacks along the way and you keep going and you keep trying and you plugging away and you end up with different clubs here and then it's just your the setbacks that you over the overcome it's, it's about enjoyment. And I've always enjoyed being as part of a team and that's similar now in my role where I'm at now at Vail around Yes, leading the academy team, but I'm, I'm a part of a team and that's something which I love. And it's, it's then seeing what we can achieve. And yeah, from from my younger age, you know, my younger age groups, my younger days, it's I still stay in touch now with people that you know, stay tall for us just gone in at Brentford. Steve was the year both me were getting together before we went off to another football club, we went on to Liverpool at the time, and you still bump into people, they're still involved in the sport, you see him at events, and you reminisce and you remember those days and, and those memories stick with you. And that's, I'm just so glad I was a part of that. And you know, even thinking back to how lucky I was with spending hours and hours with my dad in the garden, and practising and, you know, and, and that's the, I guess the skills that you develop, even through informal play, being involved in again, it's not you've got me down memory lane and remembering, you know, there used to be guys at my school, what organise their own games, and we'd set up on the high school field and they bring in and they were three or four years older than me, there's some there's some guys there, what might have been six, seven years older than me. And they used to involve me in that and I'd be down there and we'd be playing in a big game like activities, and I just, I just love being outside being active, being involved in a team sport. And at the same time, you don't realise when you're involved in that how you're homing in on the skills and, and and actually overcoming different challenges. Because if you're playing with people, what were four or five years older than you, you have to overcome that adversity and find different ways and yeah, it's, it's that that's really, really good to think back on.

Mark Whitwood: 8:02

Yeah, it's funny that you said that well, because the episode before I was just chatting with Ryan Briley from Salford red devils and we were talking about the changing landscape with today and young people and you know, memory lane there. We used to be out straight after school till it got dark, just playing wasn't it playing with anyone who was there? And do you feel like that's changed a little bit now. We don't get young people out as often as, as they used to the influence of screens and people just staying at home like I certainly seen that I think, you know, it's a shame isn't it,

Will Ryder: 8:36

it's definitely changed and that that is the the life that we now live in. It's it's very, very different. You know, I again, I even thinking back there too. You know, when I was younger, and we'd be inviting my mates up to our house and we'd be you know, the lads that have different ages and nobody our phones then at that stage it was your ring on a landline you'd organise something and people would turn up on the bikes, some people I'd get dropped off and there was even times where we'd spend hours and hours and hours outside in the garden and there's times where I'd be going look Doc can we go and pick such and such a body or like this will be a good game when we got to be involved and it was and we'd spend hours there playing tennis or five V fives or sometimes it even just three V tos and your your adult overlords in they didn't really know what you were doing at the time but what you know now in the job that I'm in and you think in there around you learning to defend outnumbered and, or, you know, you're actually working on counter attacking sessions. We just saw it as fun at the time. It was just like adult games and things have changed so so much in you know, I used to be down down with my mates houses and we I'd be there on the bike and you'd know what I knew agilone When he just started to get dark, and I knew it was a 2020 minute bike ride home. And if you timed it wrong, you know, where my mom and dad live, we've not got any streetlights there. So you were certainly out to raise all men at that stage. Not thinking of that. Now, that just sounds absolutely ludicrous that you know, that's just the the life that the world that we now live in, and it has changed and what we've got to do and Academy football, grassroots football has never come away from that phone element. And making sure the sessions that we put on Yes, our game, like, what we what it doesn't come, it doesn't become too professional too early. And I think that's something that we speak a lot around a group of staff on, on making sure that on the nines, 10s, elevens, twelves, there is that not many polls, because they're not professional players, the children, and we've got to make sure that we we never come away from that and trying to provide a programme which is, again, providing for activities in in a semi structured way.

Mark Whitwood: 11:05

In terms of like your, your passion and journey in in youth football. Well, like we we obviously first met back in, in Leeds that we're working at at Leeds United. So is that where the coaching journey really began for you because at that time, as well, you you're still busy playing sort of across the non leagues when you're busy working studying. And then sort of, I guess, is that where it began with the with the coaching? It

Will Ryder: 11:32

did, and that was the that was the period of time which I realised that you know, I think it's providing opportunities for young people I got fulfilment from that and seeing young people enjoying the activities that they're involved in and yeah, that we met up in late and yeah, I was studying on me my degree at the time and you know, where even though I was studying and working part time here, they're in different jobs that the job that I really enjoyed was the coaching side of it, where you know, we did a few the Soccer Camps didn't we at Leeds and I ended up working for a couple of different companies and you know, going into schools and running Soccer Camps and was actually catching on with Danny Phil pot last week and I worked for Danny's company I think it was called team game at the time I went in and did a few Soccer Camps for Danny and and then I went in and work in primary schools throughout Leeds and I ended up setting as you know me me on business up alongside when when you know you inspired me with that to be fair with it will you add your your active soccer are up and running. And I ended up with the the multi sports company active learning around going in schools delivering multi sport activities and, and I really enjoyed that period of time because you it was different. You you had to engage groups of children from different ages, we work predominantly primary schools, but they go into some secondary schools as well providing that education cover. And it's you know, I mentioned in an interview a couple of days ago, it's about them, being able to engage with young people being able to make sessions fun and interactive, you're working in limited space in inside tiny dinner halls. And, you know, you're you've got some children that want to be there or those that don't. And those types of skills that you pick up along the way they stick with you and how you've got to be creative and engage in a more of a in and beyond on their level. And that's something which, you know, I took with me through to the different clubs that I worked at, at Man City and then into stoke when I was working with the foundation age groups, and then it's about that and trying to gather as much experience as you can. And you know, you you then you don't know where your journey may take. Yeah, yeah,

Mark Whitwood: 14:00

I mean, like any advice for grassroots coaches where like you say, you started back at Leeds and the community programme, but like here, now your academy director at Port Vale, and we'll come on to the responsibility that you are given recently as well at the football club. But so how do you go from that working in primary school environment, sort of at the very grassroots to sort of been involved in a professional club in an academy? Is there any tips that you give to young aspiring coaches that would like to follow a sort of similar journey?

Will Ryder: 14:33

I would say Never underestimate the the responsibility and the journey that you would share with with young people if you're going in and you're working with, you know, a group of children for an hour a week. It's making sure that when they leave that session at the end of the hour, they can't wait to come again next week. So how you are with you know, the communication that you use how you are with your body language around, you know, if someone's making a mistake, how can you then provide them without self belief and self confidence and encouragement as well because you never know how those messages may be portrayed by the people that you're working with. And that's at any level, that's whether that's working with a group of under 60s, you know, what I've recently maybe started to play the game or whether that's working with first team players. And, and, and I would just say you're, how you are with the group of people you're working with ace, he's never forgotten. You know, I, we, there was a game here at the club against weekend Meal Club. And the players came running off the pitch at the end of their warmup and I was downstairs with with Carol and Claire and Freddie and Freddie was here with his mom and Freddie as moved on to Aston Villa earlier on this season. So he came back to the football club, we were pitchside anyway, he was going out onto the centre circle with ourselves and he was getting a round of applause from the from the from the fans here at Vale Park and, and as the Wigan lads came running off, Callum Lang, one of my players that I worked with Wigan, he was one of our youth team players worked with him to begin with as an under 16. And then, and then in the UT, beaming smiley spot, he doesn't, he clearly came off and gave it a massive hug. And just said, I'll catch up with you after the game and, and I made sure whether, you know, Gregory was a sporting director there now he was we were upstairs together and we went down after the game and had a real good. He was just it was just a real good chat with Callum and Scotty Smith again, one of the other lads who will work within the academy and, and that's why I say you never know, the influence that you can have on people when you're working with them when you're younger. And it's not always about the nice day, sometimes it's about those challenging times where they may be going through a rough period, or you're pushing them to be better in the professional game. And and I think with a professional game, it's it's it's making it challenging, but making it more of a and at the same time. And grassroots. I've done lots and lots with cultures in the grassroots game working as an FA mentor and coach educator. And it's again about the I would say, You know what to work on the courses, some of the most difficult things is the difference in abilities at times that you may have a beginner in the the group that you're working with. And you may have someone that's close to going into an academy. So it's it's again about having those those skill sets around how do you make it accessible for all but then how do you make it fun and engaging as well? And then so yeah, I will just say that never underestimate the, the the role that you play in during that session. Yeah,

Mark Whitwood: 17:55

so about the influence you can have on the people around you, isn't it? But for you as an academy director that doesn't just start with the player development side of things does it you you've responsible there for? We're in the offices now that you said, there's a team of 20 full time staff here at Port Vale. So as well as sort of helping all the young players progress and have a pathway here to the first team. Again, you've got to look at the coach development side of things as well. What what does that look like for you sort of as as an academy director, sort of overseeing all of that rarely,

Will Ryder: 18:27

I would say, from when I very first started with the club nearly two and a half years ago, we're in a in a hugely different spot now. And you know, that's got, you know, the office that we're sat in at the moment at the offices that we've walked through, to get into it, it's very, very different from when I first started, we've, we've managed to link the club staff to the Academy staff by taking walls down in the office space, we've we've made it now open plan so that we're not segregated and where we're not, you know, we try to limit the amount of silo work in so that it's not Academy and colobus now we're all working towards a joint plan. And my job is is people development, whether that's helping to develop players on the pitch development as people off the pitch. And and that's the same with the staff. And what my biggest bit of advice would be is that make sure you recruit the right people with the right energy, and that they are willing to learn and open to learn. And that's my sort of mantra in that for us to develop the academy as a whole. We've got a lot of people that want to develop themselves as well. And we're a brand new starting and for us to be able to take things on to the next level now. It's my job to continually push the standards and make sure that we're we're not settling for where we are now. Yes, we have had some Success. And we are now renowned as a player developer, I would say from the conversations that have from scouts that calls to games, from, you know, the conversations that I have with FA, national national staff, and from the conversations that I have with other academies were now renowned for producing players, but also were renowned for producing gold people as well. And that comes from the hard work of the stati, I understand now very much so from the first 12 months out to be absolutely in it. And what I mean by that is, I had to be actively involved in, you know, a lot of the decisions that were made on the ground. And now once we've recruited the staff, and we've, we've worked really hard on our strategy days and those formal meetings that we have, but the the informal discussions that we have now on a daily basis around people themselves, the staff group, the the players, it's the structured and unstructured, which is something that we've got a good balance with. And yeah, it's, it's my job is to try and push us on to the next level, linking in with the board. What what does the next part of our two to three to five year plan doing? What does that look like? We're trying to develop the film facilities as we go along. Without taking our eye off the right here right now with players that have progressed to go on to the you know, the first team squad, those that are racking up their appearances in the first team, players that are going out on loan and getting that experience in semi professional football, those players that have gone on to other category one football clubs, but we're not just based on that. He has said again, a couple of days ago, I want players when the journey hen ends here at Port Vale, whatever point that may be, I still want to loving the game. And that's so so important that you know, people understand we can get everybody into the first team, we can get everybody onto a category one club, we can't get everybody going into the surface, every professional game. But what I do want to make sure that we do the best chance we can is, is if people leave the building, having enjoyed the experience report, well, football club, that's

Mark Whitwood: 22:21

great. Do you think over the last sort of year or two here at the football club, there's been a shift in the culture? I mean, you as a leader of the academy, you know, you're responsible for a lot of people, like you say, and people even hear hopefully about human being as well. So what's the culture sort of been like at Port Vale? Because obviously been in a professional environment. So many challenging times as well as in the two year you're relying on some some key values aren't? Yeah, amongst the amongst the group, sort of, are there any that stand out for you that you'd say you've you've seen progress more, or maybe that weren't even existent at the start when you came here, and you feel proud of the proud of what the team has achieved here together. But I

Will Ryder: 23:03

go back and think around the very first conversation I had with Dave flitcroft. And the chats that I had with Dave initially, and then the first, I guess, informal chat that I had with the with Carol and Patrick and Tommy Johnson was involved in that, you know, during the interview process for the role, it was a, it was meant to be a probably a 30 minute conversation to begin with, we ended up being there three and a half, four hours, chatting around what it was like currently, what did we what did we want it to look like? How what influenced them that I could have in there. And it was just exciting. Because there was a there was an energy there was vibrancy, I just it matched, where I was at the time, I was a crew at the time, his head of coaching and and then obviously this opportunity came up for me to be able to then I guess, influence the programme as a whole and to be able to lead the next chapter in the the Academy of the club. And it was, again, just an opportunity that I'm so grateful for and people have put full trust in, in myself and when I've needed support when I've needed guidance people are there to then help you. And that was, as I said before, it's about people, leadership's about people. And that's the values of the club is about people and making sure that when people need that support that that support is there and getting people around the table getting there the right individuals to be able to get us through those challenging times. But something that we have talked a lot about a celebrating success as well. And and that's really important that we were at the coming up to you know, before we know it'd be the end of the season and when we look back around that stats and the figures around, you know what we've achieved during this season, not only at the top end, but the lower age groups which have been out and played against you category one clubs, they've been in played in tournaments. And, and they've had real successful times. And one of the big things that I wanted to do when I first come in was getting games against the big clubs in the area, you know, you we've been down to down, you know, into the Midlands, when we play Aston Villa and wolves, and we've been across some played Darby. And when we think about the Northwest, we have regular games against your Everton's, your, your Liverpool is your man City's human United's. And the amount of exposure that our players now get in the cat one games is brilliant. And, you know, going back to the, to the culture, it's about challenging, challenging in the right way. It's about that support network, it's about people being open to developing people being open to having those challenging conversations. And it's about my roles around getting people on a similar page, and obviously possible to try and get everybody on the same page all the time. And I've never expect that because that shows them that way. When, you know, we're not generating those ideas. And, you know, the strategy days have been brilliant for us in that people are I have a voice I want people to it's not well, riders programme, it's, it's poor sales Academy programme, and that involves the staff, teammates, it's involving people's ideas, and then jet then trying to generate and bring that to life. And we do that really well we collaborate, people have a voice and we make sure that people have that autonomy, to then be able to go and drive the programme. If things fall short a times which which happens, that's that's life, we then don't hide behind that we we have those discussions and, and things are done in a in the right way, in an empathetic way. And that's similar with the players, if we feel as though the players need help and guidance and support. We, you know, we don't let that ride out. We have those honest conversations, we involve the parents, and we get regular feedback. And that's also important, you know, and I think back to one of our players that this season made his debut. And I was in the I was in the stand and I saw his Mormon, we were stood there and watched him come out of the tunnel, and he sat in the dugout. And I was saying to him, you know, I'm so proud of where he's coming such a short period of time. And I said I'd much rather him be sat down there now where he is rather than being in one of the exact boxes where we're having a discussion and you know, 12 months earlier around, this is where he couldn't be out. And this is what's going to stop him getting a career and fair play to you know, the the player that I'm talking about, you went away worked really, really hard. And and worked out what we talked about, and that shows me unbelievable character. But what his mom did turn around and say was and we're so grateful you had that conversation with us. So it's it's about making sure that people understand, you know, what, what it takes and what it's what it's required. And sometimes you've got to have those conversations, but then people are receptive to that, because you're being upfront with them, and you're letting them know where they're at in the journey. Yeah.

Mark Whitwood: 28:23

Now, that's great. I mean, player welfare and like, say communication is just so important, isn't it when young players and families are making their decisions about where, you know, their children to go, going to go and play the football, and clearly here, there's a pathway as well as to the first team. Since you've been here. How many how many players now have progressed through to the first team squad?

Will Ryder: 28:45

Well, I was sitting down a few days ago, ready to put some stats down on paper for the, you know, in preparation for the end of season report, even though we're a few months, a couple of months off that yeah, and, and a lot so we've put over two years we've we've made 51st Team appearances with Academy players in Ligue one. And that's that's just league appearances so that there was some appearances in there from last season, but the vast majority have been this season. So, you know, we're at 4040 plus first team appearances in Ligue one this this season, if we can, you know, carry on that that and get up to 50. You know, all the players that have played in that that's a an astronaut, astronomical turnaround compared to when I first when I was first at the club, and we had no young poles there was there was nobody on what I've gone through. Nathan Smith, did you know he's still here he is, is at the top end of you know, 20s Now that might be a bit harsh. I mean, they might be a bit younger, that'd be about 27. I'd love to have a look at that. Sorry smokey view. If you're a bit younger age of feels like you've been here a long time. But you know what? I first arrived we had no young professionals. And then Tommy McDermott who's now with Burnley told me broke through and got some first team appearances James plant who's now still with us as a first year Pro has racked up 2022 appearances I think this season which is which is brilliant you know before his injury really proud moments in him get on the pitch again on Tuesday against fleet what he came back and he's back from his injury now and back out there so that's something you know, so, so proud to say. And then we've got our scholar age group players Reese Walters, Jack Shara Bailey de Pappa Ben Lomax and Bailey and Ben have both signed the professional deals, which is brilliant. Those four have racked up some some good figures this season. And then we've got all the players what have made the debuts as well, all the scholar players, Liam brasier, who's a first year first year scholar, three appearances this season, Andrew Biewer. We Andrews made a couple of appearances Logan cousins, Dan Mahaffey both played in front of 1000 funds at Wrexham. So you know, when we're talking about opportunity, the football club is built on opportunity hurts built on opportunity for players, it's built on opportunity for staff. And it's that that's that's the wonderful thing about the place in that if you're good enough, and you're willing, and you're receptive to learn, and you want to develop that that's what the club's built on. I

Mark Whitwood: 31:29

mean, for the supporters as well, that's what they want to see, isn't it? They want to see young, homegrown players getting that opportunity. You know, so favoured out there when they made the first team squad everyone's dying for them to do well. Yeah, no, it's great that you've, you've this this pathway is here at the football club. So in terms of your biggest achievement so far, well, what for you personally, what was

Will Ryder: 31:59

that say, because because the environment so fast paced, you don't often often get a chance to sit and reflect. And that's a massive part in, in what I've got to do better sit and think and, and think about, you know, the journey and I would say, my be the biggest success so far would be still loving the game as much as what I do. And it's just been here as being present being in the game. And, and what I mean by that is that I still I love the game more than what I ever I've done. And I know that might sound a little bit cheesy, but I do I get out of bed in the morning, and I'm just ready to go. And and that's because I love the environment that I work in. But I love being able to help people and and have an opportunity and a platform to be able to do that. And that I would say that that's that's me. And I would say that the success comes from that that it's not our own class it is success I'd say self fulfilment and still having the energy and the drive to want to do more. And we never know what's in the future so that's success for me here

Mark Whitwood: 33:31

or the the football club clearly recognise that recently, didn't they? Because the manager sort of left in the before the the new appointment and then you got put in temporary charged in here for the for the first team. I mean, that must have been a whirlwind for you. What what was that? Like that whole experience from there? You know, are we made aware of it a phone call, we pulled into the office with the owners? How did that happen?

Will Ryder: 33:55

Yeah, I absolutely loved it. I loved it because the group of staff were fantastic. The group of players that that I worked with, were fantastic and it was just a real enjoyable time now I can say that now at the time you're in it it's it's rigorous your use, you know, you never ever switch off from the game the next game the planning, and I loved every moment the the first indication that I've got that a may have been needing to to help was the Monday evening before the Leyton orient game. I was, you know, five minutes away from from being at home. And the young ones had been training up a keel and I was I think it was you know, about to get onto the drive and go in and gone off something to eat and I got a phone call off off day flitcroft And he was like, Look, I don't know how it's gonna map out just yet. But you know, we we were looking at Have you been involved in in helping out and supporting and, you know, we'll we'll get to sort of the finer details. And he gave me that, that heads up that that might happen. So quickly spun the car around and went and met him. And, and then, you know, 30 minutes later, Danny Lloyd who came into the me Interim Assistant Manager, he left the session and he was on his way home. And I was like, I need you just divert where you going. I said, I'll tell you what's what, when, when, you know, when you get here to where we were meeting, and we then started to look at it, and we, we actually didn't know until the Tuesday afternoon, who was going to be in charge. And Dave had different meetings with with a few different people. And that afternoon, I got the heads up that I was going to be in charge of the first thing. And that was excitement. It was trying to keep a clear head on, you know, the team, what the team needed for that evening that, you know, getting to grips with the game plan. And then you know, trying to go out and then go and execute what what was in place. The next day. I think I've actually spoken to you on the Wednesday. And you know, about the podcasts that we were we were looking at booking in and we were having a conversation that was the next day after the game. The Leyton orient game was difficult Leyton Orient, on the the form form guide, the league table, they were sitting at the top of the league table from January, the first one, we played them. That was a it was a difficult evening, I'm going to hide behind that the the players fully bought in and work the socks off that night. But when we were able to, to get to work with game plans and what it looked like for the Saturday, we we brought the players in on the Thursday, we worked out a game plan, we had our strategy in place. We worked at it on the Friday and we went out and executed that on the Saturday before we did tremendously well against the tough Stevenage side, difficult to play against. You know, Kobe came out listening for the second half, it was a third

Mark Whitwood: 37:04

opinion with to get Steve Evans as well as it was, yeah, yeah.

Will Ryder: 37:08

And it was it was interesting in that, you know, when they came out and start the second half, they've made changes the we're on the third tactical change, there has been back a little bit in the second half. After we work, in my opinion, we dominated the first half period, and we had a 10 minute spell, which which was a little bit rocky and they got on top and pinned as in before then we you know, we again, I'd made a couple of changes ourselves, and we got back in the game and our fans were at the end showed, you know, what the the players have done. On the pitch, they all stayed behind the airport is off, they were they were energetic, they were they were fully behind, and it was just a real good boss walking around the pitch thinking, I've managed to work with the staff and the players to try and you know, change the bring some belief but the thought process Yeah, bring that belief and, and we were ready to go. The Tuesday night we should have been, we should should have play Peterborough. Unfortunately, that game got called off we were 10 minutes away from leaving the hotel, all our prep had been done. And that wasn't meant to be you know, we didn't get our third game in charge. But, you know, I saw a fight in the players I saw that the what they were capable of. And now it's again, hopefully that we're able to pull some results out and, and all Darren and the staff team and the players are all working really, really hard on that to try and secure Ligue one status sport, you know, for me during that period of time, it was, I've been involved in management before I've been an assistant manager occurs in action in the conference north, when I worked with Mark Bradshaw really enjoy that side of it. But I also really, really love my job now. And it was good to be able to have that opportunity and I guess, be trusted with holding the fort the

Mark Whitwood: 39:03

responsibility and

Will Ryder: 39:04

the responsibility and it shows the trust that the the club have in me, so I'm really grateful for that.

Mark Whitwood: 39:09

Well, that's just one opportunity. It was so pleased to see given that so having had a taste of that, and obviously being a an academy director, it's what's next for you? Is it just keep keeping within sort of the the academy environment or could you see yourself progressing into into a first team environment instead?

Will Ryder: 39:32

I think in football, you you're you never know. And when I came back to when I came back to the academy with a staff and the first meeting that we had on the Monday was like you never know what's around the corner for for each one of us in the room. And I would you know, my advice to them at that point was just always make sure you're ready, because you never know when a opportunity may present itself. And I talked to the staff around, you know, CPD development and making sure that should an opportunity arise because we are built on opportunity that you're ready for that. Never say never. But where I'm at now in the role, I absolutely love what I do. I love coming in. So say that. Yeah, I love coming into work every day. I love the staff team that we've that that I've managed to build. And, and I love the development side of, you know that where you never know where someone's potential may be. You don't know that ceiling. We've seen that this year. But Bailey is just turned 17 In January, started in Ligue one on Tuesday night. And again, that that's it's not just Bailey, there's other players Jack Shorrock, since I've been at the football club, made his debut away at Shrewsbury not yet last season, as a 15 year old Club's youngest ever goal scorer, you just never know what what opportunities may arise. I absolutely love being in Academy football, and the first team side of it, I, you know, I won't hide behind before I do retire, whatever that may be, I would like an opportunity to possibly go down that route. But that may, it never presents itself. Uncomfortable. And you know, being the academy director at the football club, is is the role that I absolutely love. And for me, it's now about when my time comes. When I leave, you know, we talk about the journey, I want to make sure that I've left a legacy and a legacy that allows young people to develop well, well into the future well below, well, beyond me being being here at Vail, that's the facility development side, you know, the Vale Park campus that the board have discussed out in the media around making sure that we've got more training pitches, getting everybody on one site, you know, more grass pitches out the back alongside the first team so that we can have the Andre team straining on grass alongside the first team having our games programme all on one site. And and that is just going to be a monumental shift. And, and that is what drives me on to make sure whatever that whenever the time comes, that I move on, and that the club is in a much stronger, better place for producing youth development and where we're renowned, then in the country wide for having a strong stable structure in place. And that's what gets me out of bed every morning.

Mark Whitwood: 42:45

That's pretty well, you just mentioned that about advice that you give to other people about sort of bit just being ready for that opportunity. For you though, over the years is there one sort of standout piece of advice that you've been given that you that stuck with,

Will Ryder: 43:01

you never get nothing for free. And what I mean by that is you've you've got to stick in there, you've got to ride the times when it's rough. And, and you know, what I find is you've got to create your own lock, you've got to create your own opportunities. And it's, it's then about grabbing those opportunities and making sure you maximise them. And nothing's given for free, you've got to work really hard, you've got to make sure that you're, you're you're presenting yourself out there at times and you know, when I think back now around the different roles that I've held, the different times where you're, you're in education environments, you networking, you know, I've been a coach educator for the FA FA W. You know, as well as, as having an academy role. Previous clubs, I've always made sure that I'm out doing coach education on a Sunday when people may want a day off and you're out there and you're grabbing different experiences, different opportunities, then to try and

Mark Whitwood: 44:12

develop yourself. You're keeping showing up as

Will Ryder: 44:16

I said, You've got to show up, you've got to, you've got to make sure that you're you're enhancing your skill, set your experience, never take anything for granted. And, you know, when I think back to, you know, possibly three or four years ago, five roles at the time. You know, I was working two roles at the FAA. I was working as a mentor in the grassroots programme, I was delivering uapb courses which are still do now. I was working for the FA W delivering level one level two courses, you know, across north Wales, through central Wales in the summer hours, working down and staying over in Cardiff and Swansea and delivering wheat long courses with international international Have students which involve translators because the couldn't speak very good English. So your, your work in in different ways and finding different ways and, you know, working at ucfb as a lecturer, and I was working occurs and Ashton. So you're wearing lots and lots of different hats in the same day. But you're drawing on different experiences that you've acquired throughout your your work life, and gaining more knowledge and experience at the same time. So never, never take anything for granted. But please don't expect things to land in your lap. It's about creating those opportunities yourselves. It's about making sure like you say you show up every day, and you bring the best version of yourself. Now, that's

Mark Whitwood: 45:46

great, well, so finally, on the podcast, you've just been touching upon it, then. And you've always been involved in sort of team environments, haven't you, the three values that you believe in, that are really important for, that you want to show are coming from you, or you'll certainly want from the people around you.

Will Ryder: 46:03

Being authentic. Don't try and be somebody that you're not, I always believe in making sure that you're true to yourself, and making sure that you're, you're producing the best version of yourself, and integrity and everything that you do. And making sure when you're, you know, you make an agreement with somebody, you know that this is what I think we need to be working on you then following through with that, and you're at times on the selling. And make sure you're the produce of it being you know, having that integrity, if you're going to set out to do something, make sure you fully buy in, then I would, I would say, Me, the next one would be make sure that you're you're fully supportive of yourself and all those around you. And you've got to make sure that you give time for yourself, and look after yourself. And make sure that if you've got a staff team, you support yourself in the right way, you're trusting them to do the job. And you're providing that support around yeah. But then you know, at the same time, you're then supporting them in what they need. And, and again, that's, that's then for me where you your team thrives. And the problem with the three things which I basically sell for being, you know, true to yourself, making sure that you're what you're setting out, you're fully fully invested, and you've given it everything, and then made sure that year, you've got that, that support for yourself and those around you.

Mark Whitwood: 47:49

All of that. That's been great chatting to us today. Well, thanks. And you know what you've got on and achieved in the last sort of 20 years now, isn't it? It's just incredible. And getting the opportunity recently at the the club here to take over the first team who's just brilliant to see. So thanks for sharing so much. It's been some journey that you're on, and it's nowhere near finished yet. So I wish you all the luck for the rest of the season here with the staff at Port Vale and the chairs. Well,

Will Ryder: 48:18

brilliant science works and it's been brilliant to see it's been far too long. Let's make sure it's not as long next time before we catch up again. Thank

Mark Whitwood: 48:26

you. Yeah, cheers. Well. Thank you so much for listening. And that's it for today's episode of the active Journey podcast. Remember your journey towards success and fulfilment is a marathon not a sprint. Keep moving forward and stay active. If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to hit subscribe to our podcast and leave us a review. Your feedback helps us continue to bring more amazing stories and insights. Until next time, keep living your active journey. Remember be kind smile and above all the active