Roach leaves Bournemouth Academy after 20 years' service
Roach joined the Cherries in 2001
Written by Training Ground Guru — May 31, 2023
JOE ROACH is leaving Bournemouth’s Academy after 20 years’ service.
He first joined the Cherries in 2001, having previously been Head of Coaching for the Army FA. Back then he headed up Bournemouth’s Centre of Excellence, with “a couple of office staff and a small team of part-time coaches.”
Since then he has gone on to be Under-18s boss, reserve-team manager and Academy Manager. On two occasions he was even first-team caretaker manager, as well as assistant.
In 2011, Roach left to become an auditor for the Premier League, but returned in January 2014 under Eddie Howe. In the summer of 2017, Bournemouth announced he was leaving for family reasons, only for him to return as Academy Manager two months later.
Last summer, Roach switched from that role to the new position of Head of Player Progression, with Sam Gisborne taking up his former job.
Roach said: “No football club can exist without committed, passionate supporters and this football club has had the privilege to receive the backing of them in good times and bad.
“Thank you to those of you who have historically supported the club and those who helped keep the academy alive in its early stages of development.”
Leicester Academy Manager Ian Cawley tweeted: "What a wonderful man. Privileged to have had the opportunity to spend time with him and talk development."
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