Chris McPhee is hoping that his new position as manager of Plymouth Parkway would benefit him, the players he is developing at St. James Park, his new club, and the Grecians.
Coach Chris McPhee of Exeter City Academy is hoping that his new position as manager of Plymouth Parkway would benefit him, his new team, the Grecians, and the players he is developing at St James Park.
The 41-year-old was recently appointed as Bolitho Park’s replacement for Lee Hobbs. The Southern League Premier Division team will continue to run with a part-time manager, allowing McPhee to stay with the Grecians.
After eleven years of coaching in the Grecians Academy, the former attacker for Brighton & Hove Albion, Torquay United, Ebbsfleet, and Kidderinster Harriers now serves as the lead coach for the Youth Development Phase.
He will now combine the two positions to create a scenario where Parkway gains from having talented young players on loan, the players gain a platform to succeed on, and the Grecians gain from maintaining their tight relationship with one of the best non-league teams in the area.
“After talking with Mark Russell, the chairman of Parkway, he did outline the potential schedule for the role and clarify that it would be part-time. I then went to my line manager at Exeter and expressed my interest in taking on this task,” he stated.
“My Exeter line manager is aware of my interest in advancing in my coaching profession and my desire to do so. After explaining how I could see it working, they left for a little while to talk, then returned to say they would really like to keep me on.
They could also see the advantages, such the chance for some of our younger players to participate, grow, and receive coaching, and the fact that I will be staying on at Exeter for three more days of work. I was working at Exeter for five days a week, so cutting that down to three allows me to stay there, fully commit to my new role at Parkway, which I am really thrilled about, and have some downtime away from football to spend with my family.
“One thing I’ve learned over the years is that, if you really love a game like football, you can literally dedicate every minute of your day to it, and I don’t think that’s healthy. So, it’s important to take that time when you are not in work to recharge or de-stress because you will not be able to fulfil your duties to the best of your ability.”
As part of their player development plan, the Grecians are well known for allowing their young professionals and elite Academy prospects to spend time with nearby non-league clubs, giving them a taste of what genuine men’s football is like.
The pressure to win games and fight for survival or promotion in such a cutthroat environment—and in front of spectators—is something that cannot be taught in an academy. Since City does not have an Under-21 or Under-23 development team, developing strong relationships with the best non-league teams in the area is advantageous to both the player and the loan club.
“I had that conversation with Exeter where I have been working hard and being loyal for ten years and I didn’t want them thinking I was turning my back when I knew Mark was interested in taking things further,” McPhee remarked.
But they saw that it wasn’t because I wanted to give up or be self-centered about what I wanted to do next; rather, I wanted to do actions that would allow me to challenge myself and provide some benefit to everyone.
“They agree that I possess the abilities, mindset, and skill set necessary to succeed in men’s football management, and I’m going to keep doing that with my club’s individualised player development role, where I concentrate on each player within the 18s group and youth development phase. I’m also going to open up the channels to give young players a chance to play men’s football to support them in their programme.
Since Exeter does not have an Under-21 team, they will try to loan out one or two boys, which is beneficial to all parties. Excellent communication is essential, and we will support the Parkway players exactly as Exeter requests. We can also provide them with game film and feedback.
The same is true for all the other teams in the area. I would love to get in touch with Plymouth (Argyle) and have Parkway become the “go-to” team for Plymouth, Exeter, Torquay, and Yeovil so that we can build a reputation as a respected team that supports the players’ growth.
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