‘Proud dad’ - Academy boss opens up on Shrewsbury Town’s rising stars

Academy coach Sean McAllister described feeling like a “proud dad” as Shrewsbury Town’s homegrown talent made their first-team breakthroughs.

Bayston Hill youngster Will Gray impressed during four consecutive starts at the end of Salop’s campaign, with the academy scholar earning plenty of praise from boss Gavin Cowan.

Meanwhile, Isaac England made 16 League Two appearances this season after signing his first professional contract last August. The 18-year-old has been with the club since the age of five, progressing through the youth ranks into the first team.

Having coached the pair extensively and watched them grow up at Shrewsbury, under-18s boss and lead professional development coach Sean McAllister spoke about the emotions of seeing the duo pull on the shirt for the senior side.

“It's brilliant,” he said. “Obviously we knew Will had talent, there's still lots he needs to learn and develop of course there is.

“But for a player at his age, he's had some achievements already. We want to make sure he remains focused and that he doesn't rest on his laurels.

“We're going to keep driving him from our side and all the first team are doing that as well, because I still want to see him have more impact in the games.

“He's been really good and we're seeing his qualities, his technical ability etc.

“We are proud of him, and when we see him out on the pitch it does make you feel almost like a proud dad at times watching it, it’s the same with Isaac (England).”

England enjoyed a strong run of games during the first half of the season. However, the second half of the campaign under Cowan was hampered by injury and illness.

The academy product featured in three of Town’s final five matches of the season.

McAllister added: “He obviously made his debut last year, he played a lot of games for the under-18s last year, particularly early on in the year.

“As an under-16 he was really showing promise. We had chats with him because we feel that he hit that in his first year, and he was managing his school work with his football, which was difficult for him.

“But after Christmas he started really knuckling down and impressed the manager and impressed on the first team stage.

“Full credit to both of them for what they're going through. We just want more of them, because we’ve seen on the pitch, there's some players who have real potential.”