It's The Values That Sets Everton Apart

Keith Southern left Everton in 2002 after five years as a midfielder in the Blues’ Academy. Fifteen years later – following a successful career in the Football League with memorable spells at Blackpool and Huddersfield Town – he is now back at the Club working as a part-time Academy Coach and has been pleased to discover certain things have remained exactly how they were…

Keith, what’s it like to be back at Everton after such a long time away?

I’m absolutely delighted. It feels a little bit strange because when I left the football club it was based at Bellefield, the training centre, and now it’s at this fabulous complex (at USM Finch Farm). But I’ve seen it before, I’ve been back in the meantime and had a look around as I’ve still got many friends at the Club. I’m really delighted to be back and help play a small part in helping some younger players develop.

Talk us through your role as part-time Academy Coach and how it came about…

I came in in the summer, kind of low key. I had a chat with Sean [Lundon – Head of Academy Coaching] and people around the Club about where I wanted to go, what my plans were for the future and where I was up to with my coaching badges. Sean welcomed me with open arms, he’s been fantastic with me. He told me to come in and watch some of the sessions with some of the coaches, people like Phil Jevons, who I know very well from my time with the Club as we played in the same youth team together. I did that for a number of weeks and then Sean asked me if I’d be interested in helping Scott Phelan with the Under-12s. I jumped at the opportunity, because it’s a learning curve and I’ve not worked with players at that age before so it’s a challenge and you’re using a different skill-set but I’m really enjoying it and delighted to be back here, even if it is on a part-time basis.

How would you describe the Under-12s group?