Dutch master to school academy recruits

Former Port Vale, Derby County and Barnsley midfielder Robin Van Der Laan was named by Newcastle Town on Monday as a new first team coach and development officer for the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club’s expanding youth section.

The 45-year-old UEFA A licensed coach, pictured, has agreed a deal with the Staffordshire outfit to work under manager Ivan Lodge as well as heading up the club’s involvement in the new NPL Football Academy which opens in September.

The Castle are one of ten clubs who’ve signed up to the venture which was unveiled in April by the Evo-Stik NPL as the first in English football to combine football with further education to help 16-18 year-old players forge careers in football and the wider sports industry.

Officials at the Lyme Valley Stadium say the Port Vale legend and former Derby County skipper will also work across all age groups at the First Division South club after recently returning from Canada where he runs his own successful academy with nearly 200 full-time players.

Van Der Laan has also worked in a number of other professional academies and was international head coach for Manchester United Soccer Schools. Officials have also revealed that some flexibility has been built into the coach’s commitments to allow him to continue to oversee his own academy without it negatively impacting on his work for them and the NPL Football Academy.

Van Der Laan, who made more than 200 appearances for Vale including two Wembley trips before moving to Derby County for a three year spell, said: "I am very excited and appreciative of the fact that Newcastle Town FC are entrusting me with the development of not just the youth players but also the first team players at the club. Working with an experienced manager in Ivan Lodge will be fantastic, especially as we share the passion and perhaps more importantly the philosophy on how football should be played.

"There is a young first team squad at the club with a lot of talent and potential and we both want to continue to develop these players into better players to progress into the next league with Newcastle Town FC. The potential at the club is fantastic for both first team and youth section and I am expecting all our teams to go from strength to strength.

"There has been good progress in the last three years, from promotion three seasons ago, to avoiding relegation and stabilising the team the following year to pushing for the play-offs this season. If we can follow this trend next year we should hopefully be looking forward to the play-offs at the end of next season. The fact that this progress has been achieved trying to play football the right way is what has impressed me most."

He added: "I have a personal relationship with the club that goes back to the early 90's when I first signed for the Vale. From pre-season friendlies there with Port Vale, to living within minutes from the ground making friends at the club, playing for the club for a short spell and now having my own boys playing for the club currently, starting with another club would just not feel right.

"Newcastle Town FC has a great reputation as being one of the best Non-League clubs in the area both at junior level and senior level. They have some of the best facilities both for games and training and are well organised with a great playing philosophy. The fact that Port Vale FC, Stoke City FC and Crewe Alexandra FC have been playing pre-season friendlies at Newcastle Town FC for as long as I can remember shows how the local professional clubs feel about the club as a whole."

Newcastle Town manager Lodge said: "The appointment of Robin to the coaching staff will ensure any player wanting to improve as a footballer will now have the opportunity to do so at Newcastle Town. This is a great appointment for footballers wanting to develop in the local area."

Youth section chairman Gavin Appleby added: "The fact that Robin wishes to join our club and donate his experience to us is fantastic for the local area. He is a top class coach and the opportunity for any youngster to be coached by Robin at our club will be a great for their development."