Roy Massey's playing career comprised only a little over 100 League appearances across relatively short spells at Rotherham United, Leyton Orient and Colchester United. Given this, it appears unlikely that his career would be recorded - and, indeed, celebrated - in a book with a testimonial from Arsenal's Jack Wilshere on the front cover. Of course, the reason for this lies in the coaching career that Massey began in his late twenties when injury cut short his playing days. Though now in his late seventies, Massey's coaching story is a very modern one, as it mirrors the rise to prominence of the structured academies that now govern the development of elite young talent.
Over the last few decades, many have contributed to the evolution of Arsenal's youth development programme. When thinking about our Hale End Academy, notable ex-first-team players may most readily spring to mind - from Liam Brady to Per Mertesacker and, most recently, Jack Wilshere. However, across 16 transformative years within the Wenger era (1998-2014), the relatively unheralded Massey was at the heart of our Academy. His story offers a unique perspective on the Club's journey towards the Hale End of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.
Published by Pitch Publishing, 'Roy Massey: A Life in Football and a Coach to the Stars' was published on April 17, 2023.
RELEASED on APRIL 17, 2023
PUBLISHER'S DESCRIPTION
Roy Massey tells the fascinating story of his 50 years in football as a player, coach and scout. He was Arsenal assistant academy manager from 1998 to 2014, helping the Gunners build a thriving academy structure. Roy has had a privileged insider's view of the full gamut of the sport's evolutionary changes, which he shares with us in this book.
PUBLISHER'S AUTHOR PROFILE
In this compelling memoir, Roy Massey tells the fascinating story of his 50 years in football as a player, coach and scout, including a long spell at Arsenal during the Wenger glory years. As a player, Massey overcame a series of injuries to score goals for Rotherham, Orient and Colchester only for another serious injury to end his career at an early age. Unperturbed, he became a PE teacher and combined this with behind-the-scenes work to discover and nurture talent at Colchester United and later full-time at Norwich, where he helped the Canaries as they revolutionised their youth programme. When the FA agreed to allow clubs to attract and train children from eight years upwards, it was Massey whom Gunners legend Liam Brady asked to join him at Arsenal in 1998 as assistant academy manager. Over the next 16 seasons Massey helped build a new academy structure that would unearth and develop a wealth of young talent capable of playing at the top of the football ladder. Massey later scouted for three Premier League clubs.
Roy Massey has collaborated with Mark Metcalf to write his life story. Football historian Mark is the author of numerous books on the beautiful game, including the authorised biography of Charlie Hurley, Flying Over an Olive Grove: The Remarkable Story of Fred Spiksley, Manchester United 1907-11 and The Origins of the Football League: The First Season 1888/89. He has written for the Sunday Mirror and worked for the PFA.