Roy Massey: A Life in Football and a Coach to the Stars

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We got together and then I thought more seriously about my time in football and the many stories that accumulate, over many, many years,” said Massey, whose grandfather Jim Massey was a professional footballer for Sheffield Wednesday in the 1890s. Massey said: “Arsenal have always been committed to producing their own talent - and when I played briefly for the A team there were six or seven lads who played in the Double-winning side of 1971. Over the following months Mark continued to develop his game and no doubt his efforts helped him, in part, take his mind off the devastation of losing his father at such a young age.” He did this again in Hereford six years later, gaining respect for his work with the choir. Hereford involved overseeing the events of the Three Choirs Festival, and Massey is proud of the works that he commissioned during his time as conductor of concerts there, including the Requiem by Geoffrey Burgon. Roy thinks its a “good book for anyone who loves the sport”, but specifically hopes it will help parents of aspiring footballers stay grounded.

Roy Massey is one of the most influential organists and choir trainers of the past 50 years. In this fascinating memoir, Roy takes us from his beginnings as a treble in Birmingham, to his time as Warden of the RSCM at Addington Palace, Director of Music at Birmingham Cathedral, then at Hereford for over twenty-five years, where he directed the Three Choirs Festival many times. In his retirement, Roy has been no less busy, serving a term as President of the Royal College of Organists and as a much sought-after organ recitalist. The penultimate chapter lists various organ recitals that Massey carried out, and it is clear that retirement has not meant an end to his career. The book includes many photos, including one of Massey next to the gargoyle made in his likeness, which you can see in the Lady chapel at Hereford Cathedral.And he takes as much satisfaction from seeing the Under-18s team coached by former England midfielder Wilshere reach the FA Youth Cup Final as he does from watching the likes of Saka, Smith-Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson playing their part in trying to win Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 19 years under Mikel Arteta. I came down to Arsenal and again, we were renting areas and pitches to play some of their youth games. It was only when in 2000 we bought the Walthamstow Hale End training ground that we established our own training field." Two years later, he was set to be released again as fellow Northern Ireland star Steve Morrow, working as a recruitment officer, was signing two defenders from abroad. ROY MASSEY has had a brilliant career as one of our most significant organists and choir trainers, and it is inevitable that his book about his life includes a roll call of organists and other musicians whom he has encountered over his long career.

I regarded the academy as my family," said Wilshere. "Roy was the one who drove things forward and he had a strong work ethic." However another injury occurred, breaking a bone in his foot and spent the following 18 months sidelined which encounter three operations before a specialist forced him to quit the game.From 1968 to 1974 he was organist of St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham, and director of music at King Edward's School, Birmingham. He was elected Fellow of the Royal School of Church Music (FRSCM) in 1972 and Fellow of St. Michael's College, Tenbury, in 1975. [1] It was an unbelievable time for me and to work then for the next 15 years at Arsenal towards the end of my career was an unbelievable experience.”

A couple of days later, I got a call from Liam Brady asking me if I’d like to be assistant academy manager and work with the nine to 12 year-olds at Arsenal. When I was playing, Rotherham United were usually assured by February, certainly early March, that they weren't going to be relegated or promoted. Therefore, for the last two months of the season, there'd be less pressure on the manager than there is today, as almost every club, right up to the last week of the season might have a chance of getting promotion or are in danger of being relegated. Some players want to continue their careers in coaching, and they would come down and look at the training and coaching. Steve Bould was another one," tells Massey, labelling Bould a "wonderful man". Eddie started his academy football with Chelsea as a young boy then came to the attention of the Arsenal academy when he played against them and had a very good game," says Massey.It wasn't to be, but Massey is thrilled to see Wilshere now taking care of the under-18s at Arsenal. Noah Chilvers is captaining Colchester at the moment and it’s great reward for anyone who works within an academy to see a young lad come through from a young age and be a regular and to be captain is a great achievement. Following his retirement from Hereford Cathedral, Massey became President of the Royal College of Organists (2003–2005). [2] He remained active as a concert organist, and gave the opening recital on the newly rebuilt organ at Hereford Cathedral in 2005. The last time Roy was at the JobServe Community Stadium he saw in action for Colchester two of the players he signed at Arsenal at the age of eight – Sanchez Watt and Craig Eastmond.