From Aston Villa to Stourbridge: Scott Adey-Linforth applies Unai Emery and Premier League lessons at Glassboys
Scott Adey-Linforth is bringing lessons from Unai Emery and stars at Aston Villa to his managerial role at Stourbridge, guiding the Glassboys closer to safety.
He took charge with Stourbridge sitting seven points adrift of safety in the Southern Central Premier. Although they have lost their past two league games, a strong start under Adey-Linforth cut that deficit to just three points ahead of tomorrow's clash with Needham Market.
As a performance analyst at Aston Villa, Adey-Linforth works with some of the Premier League's top names, and he says that experience helps him at Stourbridge.
He said: "It definitely has benefits. It's my seventh full-time season in the first team at Villa. I've been blessed to work with some top-end coaches and players.
"You can take bits from them and learn from the best effectively, and take it into my environment at Stourbridge and tweak it as and when I need to to suit what I need and what the club needs.
"It's definitely a plus, and the club have been so supportive of me since I've stepped into these management roles.
"I can learn from the best and transfer it into my own skill sets and what the players need at Stourbridge."
Adey-Linforth first joined Stourbridge as part of Gary Hackett's coaching staff during a period that saw the club enjoy several historic FA Cup runs.
He also held various roles within the club’s youth sections before he helped the Glassboys win the Birmingham Senior Cup, reach the last eight of the FA Trophy, and complete his UEFA A Licence - all while continuing his full-time work at Villa.
"It's looked after me all my life, and the career I've gone on to have in football, with my full-time work as well, has all come from that period at Stourbridge,” he added.
"There's people there now that are still there from when I started. They've watched me grow up and it's a bit surreal being the gaffer after spending all those young years picking up cones and collecting balls etc.“
Elsewhere, Halesowen Town host Banbury United, while in the Northern Premier League Hednesford Town welcome Whitby Town, and Kidderminster Harriers travel to Spennymoor Town in the National League North.
In Northern One Midlands, Lichfield City entertain Boldmere St Michaels, while in Northern One West Stafford Rangers go to Witton Albion, Darlaston Town travel to Kidsgrove Athletic, Sporting Khalsa visit Shifnal Town and Chasetown head to Newcastle Town.
