Jack Wilshere and Alex Iwobi call him a ‘father figure’ and many other Premier League stars have benefited from the work Roy Massey first put into practice 25 years ago.
Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith-Rowe and Joe Willock are among others who have appreciated Massey’s leadership since he started helping Arsenal legend Liam Brady shape the Gunners’ academy in 1998.
“I considered the academy my family,” Wilshere said. “Roy was the one who got things done and he had a strong work ethic.”
Iwobi, who joined Everton while still in primary school and made 100 Premier League appearances before joining Everton in 2019, says Massey was “respected, loved and adored” and was always a “perfect gentleman”.
“He has an infectious laugh and made everyone feel welcome,” added Iwobi. “He gave us all equal opportunities to step onto the pitch during games. He gave us the faith and the freedom to enjoy our football and express ourselves.”
After more than 25 years of training at Colchester and Norwich, where Massey’s young stars clearly outperformed the Irishman’s prospects, he accepted Brady’s offer to join Arsenal.
Massey was tasked with locating school-age children good enough to represent the London club while identifying and developing new facilities.
Massey built a network of scouts and recruited top coaches.
In doing so, he used methods honed by Ajax Amsterdam – who had won the Champions League three years earlier with a squad made up of academy graduates – to nurture young players, creating a welcoming family atmosphere while keeping them anchored.
Arsenal look set to break their transfer record with the signing of Declan Rice, but the club’s prolific Hale-End academy remains invaluable.
And Massey, who retired in 2014, describes how some of the current Premier League stars have benefited from the Gunners’ system.
“Bukayo came to the Academy when he was eight years old thanks to Miguel Rios, a young man I asked to do some exploring for us in West London,” says Massey.
“He brought several young players with him, but the most notable was clearly Bukayo who was 13 when I retired and has proven to be one of the most talented players the Arsenal academy has produced. “
“Bukayo had a very good left foot and was mainly used as a left back where he could learn to defend and attack the game, or as a left winger in 8v8 games on small pitches.
“He had two good feet but the technical staff thought he was stronger on the left.” He showed composure on the ball, he had strength and speed, but there was a bit of concern that his success would not last as he got older if the other players could follow him physically.
“However, Bukayo possessed maturity beyond his early years, showing great footballing intelligence, ball skills and a genuine desire to turn professional. Like most little boys, his father was very supportive of his endeavours.
Joe Willock – “He Wept His Eyes”
“The youngest of the three Willock brothers was Joe,” says Massey. “When I met him, he was only five years old. His mum Sarah and dad Charles took him to see Chris [who now plays for QPR] at the gym.
“Throughout the session Joe cried and begged him to play. There was no way to calm him down until I invited him to the playing area to kick a ball. “
“Suddenly he stopped crying and a smile appeared on his face. When Joe was seven, he played for the pre-academic team against Watford.
“In this game, Joe ran through the defense and with the goal at his mercy, shot the ball wide of the post. Coach Rodney Clements took off his glasses and said, ‘Joe, do you want them?’ – Joe laughed and continued his game before scoring a hat-trick.
Like his brother Chris, Joe has also shown little interest in the resume, but has been very enthusiastic in training and in matches, probably showing less potential than his older brothers, but this has not stopped him from making his Premier League debut in midfield against Newcastle United”.April 2018.
“At the age of 18, he became the fourth player born after Arsene Wenger took over to play for the club.
Joe was also the 56th teenager to represent Arsenal in the Premier League era – more than any other club. Jack Wilshere was the youngest at 16 years and eight months.
Eddie Nketiah 
“Eddie started his footballing career as a young boy at Chelsea and then came to the attention of Arsenal’s academy when he played against them and showed a very good game,” Massey said.
“Although he was very small for his age, he had speed and good technical ability.
“After the U14 game, Bobby Arber, a full-time Arsenal scout, walked past Chris and Joe Willock. He stopped to chat with them about the game and mentioned the little centre-forward.
“‘He’s mean,’ they said. Bobby initially thought they were referring to his character, but he soon realized that “bad” meant good! Young told him Chelsea released Eddie.
“This was music to Bobby’s ears.
He contacted Ian Gilmour, who has advised young people in south London. Ian spoke to Eddie and his parents and they agreed for him to try out at Arsenal. It didn’t take long before Eddie had the opportunity to join the Gunners.”
Reiss Nelson
– spotted in the park
“Reiss was called up for training at age eight by scout Alan Knowles,” Massey says. “He had already been noticed by Tottenham Hotspur, with whom he trained.
Alan was on his way home from a schoolboy’s game and as he passed a park he saw a group of young footballers enjoying a game with each other.
“Alan stopped to watch and after a while he saw a little boy receiving the ball before dribbling past three opponents.
When the goalkeeper came out to block his shot, the young player feigned shooting and then the goalkeeper dived to anticipating the shot, the boy dribbled around him before calmly sliding the ball into the goal.
“Alan was impressed and asked the eight-year-old to come and train at the Arsenal academy, where he later spent many years before signing professionally with the Gunners.”
