Crewe Alex midfielder joins team-mate's coaching academy in Nantwich
By Ryan Parker
12th Apr 2024 | Local News
A Crewe Alexandra FC midfielder has joined his team-mate's coaching academy team in Nantwich, getting a "real buzz" from it while out with a serious injury.
This March, Jack Powell, 30, joined Conor Thomas Academy to support joint sessions with the Alex midfielder.
Conor Thomas Academy was established by the player, also 30, in March 2023, offering one-to-one and small group sessions to kids in the local area.
The professional coaching has proved to be a massive hit, with sessions currently taking place at Nantwich Town FC's 4G pitch.
Powell, who is FA qualified, became a fan's favourite for Crewe after putting in strong performances since signing from Crawley Town in the summer.
The Canning-born midfielder made 17 appearances this campaign, scoring once and registering four assists, before sustaining a serious knee injury in October.
Powell told Nub News: "I was eager for my oldest son, now 11, who plays for Nantwich Under 11s, to do more football training.
"I said to him about doing training with Conor [Thomas] and as he runs his academy from the same location as my son trains, it made sense to do this.
"On the back of that, I said I was available to help out with coaching at his academy and it went from there.
"Because of my knee injury, I had to be a little more mobile to help out, but now I am.
"I did my first session towards the end of March. I now do this every Monday and Wednesday.
"Conor is keen for me to do as much as I can. By not playing football right now, coaching youngsters gives me a real buzz.
"I have a family of five, with three kids, the way this has worked out doesn't take time out of my schedule and I am loving it."
All Conor Thomas Academy sessions are still be structured by the Alex midfielder, with Powell assisting with coaching.
Powell believes the Nantwich coaching sessions give each player much-needed time on the football.
He said: "With Conor, I mainly coach technical skills. We do a lot of ages where they are still building their technical skills.
"I help youngsters to improve passing, volleys, finishing, heading and make sessions specific for their positions.
"One-to-one sessions give kids more time on their ball than with their respective teams, which we have worked out at being around 500 more per each time.
"Coaching is something i want to continue doing, even when I am back playing.
"I have trained youngsters in the past at previous clubs and would eventually like to be a coach in the men's game."
Powell ruptured his ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) and is now hoping to be fit for the start of the 2024/25 season.
The Crewe midfielder told Nub News: "If you leave it nine months from the operation, you have more chance of being fully fit.
"Since signing for Crewe, I am one of the most experienced players at the club want to be a leader. Off the pitch i still try to do that.
"It is important to still have an input from the sidelines. I like having private conversations with players and keeping the boys at it.
"I have found it tough as i like to be amongst it all, it's difficult to feel how the players are feeling off the pitch.
"Any input I can have I do, such as being in team meetings and the dressing room."
Powell is impressed with how well Crewe have coped this season, despite losing key players to injury.
With three games to go, The Alex occupy a playoff position, having an eight-point cushion on the team outside of it.
Powell said: "When you really analyse it for what it is, we started with a small squad, made up of loads of young players.
"Obviously we had some terrible injuries to key players, with some of them having big experience.
"Losing O'Riordan to Blackburn and Tabiner, Long, Offord, Holicek, Baker-Richardson and myself for large chunks through injury, have hit the squad hard.
"We have handled the situation really well. Lots of teams would have fallen off completely.
"We have a great, honest bunch of lads in the dressing room and deserve to be where we are.
"This team are more than capable of building on where we are and having a great end to the season
"We could make memories for everyone associated with Crewe and hope we can achieve it."
Conor Thomas Academy's sessions are currently running every Monday to Thursday, from 4pm to 8pm.
To book sessions, email: [email protected].
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