EFL Youth Development Week | From academy player to coach | Tom Price
As part of EFL Youth Development Week, former Swansea City midfielder turned academy Foundation Phase coach Tom Price reflects on his playing career at the club and his transition into a coach.
Morriston-born Price had been part of the academy set-up for over a decade, and had his breakthrough season at under-23 level in the 2018-19 campaign, having made 17 appearances in all competitions.
The midfielder signed his first professional contract in 2018, and signed on for an additional year ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.
He departed the club in the summer of 2020, and returned four years later as under-12s' coach in the academy. Here, he discusses his journey from academy player to becoming a coach at his boyhood club.
"I was playing for my local team in Morriston, and we had a friendly against what was the development squad at the time, the academy structure was a bit different at that time, you had the development centres and the Centre of Excellence," said Price.
"I did well in the game, and they brought me into the development set-up. We had a game against the Centre of Excellence, I scored and then after six-week trial they kept me on."
Price made his way through the ranks, and played alongside the likes of Swansea City captain Ben Cabango, Liam Cullen and Ollie Cooper.
"It was a really good journey, it was a long time and a lot of hard work but it was one full of really good memories," he said.
"In my age-group, we had a good group. We were together from quite a young age, probably around nine to 10-years-old.
"Lots made it to the Professional Development Phase, so during that time a lot of us grew close and built up a really good bond, we pushed each other on and helped each other get to that level.
"It was a really good time, and I have lots of good memories. In terms of experiences, a tour we had in South Africa in 2019 is what really stands out. Just going over there and getting the opportunity to play football is something not many people get to do."
On top of their tour to South Africa, Price also played his role in the under-19s' FAW Youth Cup winning campaign in 2019 - giving the midfielder a personal hat-trick of wins in the competition - a competition Swansea City won ten years in-a-row.
The local lad also had further experiences against Premier League outfits, featuring in the Swans' Premier League Cup semi-final against Everton in 2019, with defeat against the Toffees denying them a third straight final in the prestigious youth competition.
Price put pen to paper on a one-year extension that summer, but following a successful period within the club's professional phase since the age of nine, his time at the club came to an end at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He admits that the disappointment of leaving the club was tough to take, and especially during a time of uncertainty for a lot of academy players across the country.
"It was difficult, with COVID ongoing at the time, it made opportunities hard to come by. Because I was at the academy at such a young age, it does become part of your identity, so you do lose a bit of that," he added.
"Unfortunately, it didn't work out elsewhere from the professional side of things but it was then about finding that love for football again, and finding an environment that I could go in and enjoy football again.
"It wasn't an easy period, but hopefully it's made me a better and stronger person today."
And that environment would be back at the club he once played at, with Price returning in a coaching capacity in 2024.
Alongside his role as under-12s' coach, Price works full-time at a bank, and plays for JD Cymru Premier side Briton Ferry Llansawel, having played for Cardiff Met last season. The 25-year-old also enjoyed a loan spell at JD Cymru Premier outfit Aberystwyth Town during his time in SA1.
He expressed that he found his love for the tactical side of the game as a player during pre and post-match analysis sessions, and always saw himself helping the next generation of footballers.
"I was always very interested in the tactics when we sat down in the analysis room, when we would often look over games. We were given tasks to go off into our units, and reflect on games and feedback to the coaches and players. I always enjoyed those tasks, and taking lead on those," said Price.
"From my experiences, it gives me the motivation to help these boys try and achieve what I did and more.
"I was in their position not long ago, and it was a nice feeling coming back. I understand the types of feelings the boys are going through when things don't go so well, but also when things go well and reminding them that it's not the end and they have to keep working hard.
"At the moment, it's just about giving everything to the role I am in, developing myself as a coach and the players. There's lots of learning still to go."