JOEL WALDRON, Everton’s Academy Chief Operating Officer and former Academy Director, has left the club after 12 years.

CHELSEA’S Under-12s won the annual Christmas Truce Tournament for the third straight time as clubs from England, Germany, Belgium and France came together for a flagship commemorative event.

BRISTOL CITY are the leading team in England’s top two divisions this season when it comes to fielding homegrown players. The CIES has ranked teams around the world according to the percentage of domestic league minutes played by ‘club-trained’ footballers during the current season.

MANCHESTER UNITED have launched an Academy Alumni Programme which they say is “unique in English football” and formalises support for their former players.

ANDY MYERS is leaving Chelsea after 13 years to become Joe Edwards’ Assistant at Millwall. Myers made more than 100 appearances for the Blues as a player and first joined their Academy coaching staff as Under-14s Assistant in 2010/11.

SUNDERLAND have opted to replace Under-18s Lead Adam Asghar with two coaches who will work across the entire U15 to U18 age range and focus on the individual development of every player.

STEPHEN TORPEY has left Manchester City after nine-and-a-half years to become Brentford’s Academy Director and will spearhead the Bees’ drive to achieve Category One status.

MANCHESTER UNITED have appointed a new Head of Local Recruitment and Pre-Academy Lead Scout as they continue to assemble a “best-in-class” Academy scouting and recruitment team.

FORMER England Head of Psychology Dr Ian Mitchell has joined Newcastle United as Sporting Director Dan Ashworth continues to upgrade operations behind the scenes at the club.

MANCHESTER UNITED Academy Director Nick Cox made an impassioned rallying cry for Academies when he spoke at TGG Live last week and we wanted to share it with a wider audience.

GAVIN LEVEY has left Aberdeen after 17 years to become the new Academy Director at Swansea City. He replaces Andy Goldie, who joined Southampton in the summer.

MICK MATTHEWS is leaving the Football Association after 26 years to take up the new role of Academy Coach Development Manager at Manchester United.