Gisborne replaces Roach as Bournemouth Academy Manager
Joe Roach (left) with Sam Gisborne
Written by Training Ground Guru — May 21, 2022
SAM GISBORNE has been promoted to Academy Manager at Bournemouth, with Joe Roach moving to the new role of Head of Player Progression.
Gisborne was an Academy intern with the Cherries from September 2015 before working in Academy Operations for Norwich in 2016/17. He returned to Bournemouth as Academy Operations Manager in April 2017 and was promoted to Assistant Academy Manager in March 2021.
“I am thrilled to be moving up to Academy Manager," Gisborne said. "The Academy is in a really good place and Joe has consistently pushed me and other staff to keep improving and provide an environment for our young players to flourish.
“We have had some great success this year with Academy boys getting a good amount of minutes and helping the first team achieve their goal of promotion to the Premier League.
“I can't wait to continue the good work Joe has done in his long and successful career at the club. Whilst it may not be easy to follow in his footsteps, I am very confident that with the staff we have now, we can continue to keep moving the AFC Bournemouth Academy forward.”
Roach was Head of Youth and reserve team manager at Bournemouth from 2001 to 2011.
He worked as an auditor for the Premier League for two years before returning in 2014 as Academy Manager. In April 2017 the club said Roach would be leaving, but three months later it was announced he was staying on.
“I have been privileged to lead the Academy for nearly 20 years, with the remit in 2001 of developing the then centre of excellence, subsequently now an Academy,” Roach said.
“It is with immense pride that I am able to hand over the academy responsibilities to Sam Gisborne as my replacement.
“He has shown a fantastic work ethic, humility and personal progression that allows me to confidently step into another role.”
Roach said his new job would involve focusing on the older players in the Academy, “whether they are moving through the age groups, supporting the loan manager when going on loan, training with the first team, but more importantly supporting the player care plan already in place.”
Bournemouth applied for Category Two status in 2020, but subsequently withdrew from the process because they were not able to build the indoor facility that was required in order to move up. The club had plans for a new training facility to house both their first team and Academy but these were subsequently shelved.
The club placed 38th in TGG’s 2020/21 Academy Productivity Rankings, making them the fifth highest Category Three club.
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