42-year-old forward Jamie Cureton has announced that he plans to link up with the Arsenal youth academy, reportedly to coach the u16 team.
Cureton announced on Twitter that he was set for a new role with the Arsenal academy as a coach, although the striker is still currently playing for Farnborough in the Southern League Premier Division.
Delighted with my new role at @Arsenal youth academy working alongside top coaches and helping the players of the future. #newchapter #coach
— Jamie Cureton (@JamieCuro) September 21, 2017
The Islington Gazette report that Jamie will be doing his coaching badges and coaching the Arsenal u16s for a few days a week, as well as continuing to play for Farnborough.
Cureton has now been playing football at a senior level since 1994, and has spent 23 years playing at all levels of the football league, from the Premier League down to League Two, as well as a few divisions below that as well.
Jamie began his career with Arsenal’s League Cup fourth round opponents, Norwich City, and scored four goals in 17 Premier League appearances with the Canaries after breaking into the team at 19 years old.
Arsenal are clearly having a bit of a shake up in the youth department, what with Per Mertesacker’s appointment as head of the academy at the end of the current campaign.
With Cureton’s considerable experience of all levels of English football, he should be well placed to advise the u16s on how best to prepare themselves for the future.