New head of football development

We’re very happy to welcome Tony Wigham as our new head of football development. Tony has many years of experience in professional football and has been coaching since he was 19. His career has seen him working and playing in America before returning to the North East as a Newcastle United (NUFC) academy coach. Alongside his head of football development role, Tony will continue to coach NUFC’s under 10s and under 6s.

The new appointment will enhance the football development programme at our Academy for Sport which is run in partnership with Gateshead FC and is renowned for its fantastic playing and training facilities. Some of the college’s former football academy students include Euro Championship winners Jill Scott and Demi Stokes as well as Sheffield United’s Chris Basham and Connor Panni who now plays for Gateshead FC. The college has also supported many students to pursue scholarships in the USA.

Julie Kimber, sport academies coordinator at Gateshead College said: “We’re delighted to have Tony on board and believe his skillset and experience will complement our existing football coaching staff perfectly. Our students will benefit from Tony’s passion for the game and his dedication to supporting them to go on to do amazing things, whether that’s on or off the pitch. Welcome to the team, Tony.”

Tony, who has a UEFA B license and FA Youth Award, is currently working towards the UEFA A license and Advanced FA Youth Award. He has previously coached Newcastle United’s Ladies Team and, before joining Gateshead College, was head of women’s football at Park View Academy of Sport.

Tony Wigham said: “It’s great to join the Academy for Sport at Gateshead College at a very exciting time. The work they do with students and their provision of football coaching is second to none and I’m pleased to be part of the team. Coaching is a highly rewarding job especially when you get to see players progress in the game.”

Gateshead College’s Academy for Sport at Gateshead International Stadium provides an opportunity for students from across the college to continue in their sport while studying towards on any of the college’s programmes – not just sport courses.

For more information about Gateshead College’s Academy for Sport and the sport academies go here.