Davies and Etherington - back to the start

Two of our former players have gone back to their roots as they embark on a coaching career.

Simon Davies and Matthew Etherington joined us in a ‘double swoop’ from Peterborough United back in 2000.

The pair joined forces back at Posh in January and have just completed the season as Under-18s manager and coach respectively.

Simon, now 39, broke through in 2000/01, earned a call into the full Wales squad, scored in our League Cup semi-final win against Chelsea in 2002 and played in the final. He made 147 appearances before leaving for Everton in 2005. After two seasons at Goodison, he spent the rest of his career at Fulham, reaching the Europa League Final in 2010 before retiring in 2013 with 436 career appearances to his name.

Now 37, Matthew played 51 times for us before departing for West Ham in 2003. He enjoyed six-year spells at the Hammers and then Stoke, playing for both in FA Cup Finals (2006, 2011) before retiring in 2014 with 494 career appearances under his belt.

Matt joined Posh as Under-18s manager in July, 2018, with Simon joining his friend and former team-mate in a coaching role in January.

Speaking earlier this year, Simon told us: “It’s funny, we’ve always talked about doing something together. Matt is a bit ahead of me in his coaching badges, he took the job in the summer with the Under-18s and the guy he was doing it with (Sam Darlow) left to go to Ipswich and he rang me and asked ‘do you want to do it?’ It was all really quick.

“We’re treating it as starting again. It’s another apprenticeship, learning our trade, basically. We’re really enjoying it. It’s been good fun.”

It was suggested that the fact Simon and Matt had been YTS apprentices at Posh, progressed through the ranks to the first team, been transferred to Spurs and had long careers in the game was perfect for the young footballers now under their guidance.

“We’re really conscious of not relying on that too much,” he explained. “Obviously, the lads know we played but what we’re trying to teach them is that we know what’s right and what’s wrong.

“The principles of football will never change, whatever level you get to. You have to understand the game and do the right things at the right times. That’s what we’re trying to get across and the lads have been great, they’ve really taken it on board.”

How had the club changed? Both were at Posh aged 15 - indeed, Matthew made his first team debut aged 15 years, 262 days.

“It’s like night and day,” said Simon. “The club has a great training ground now compared to what we had. There has been a lot of development at the stadium. You come back, driving here every day, driving around the city all brings back a lot of memories.

“We both have a lot of passion for the club. It’s where we both started, the club that gave us our chance. It’s great to be able to give something back.”