Mousehole have announced a change in the leadership of their Development Team, with the appointment of Drew Symons & Tim Hurrell from Falmouth United.

Drew leaves Falmouth United after 15 years of service to the club during which he has been coach, committee member and more recently Chairman and First team manager.  During this period the club has expanded to offer football opportunities to 17 youth teams age 5-16 and a pathway to two Adult teams.  Drew has gained a wide range of coaching qualifications, and also works as a coach with Mousehole’s First team Manager Jake Ash at Penryn Development Centre, and as Head Coach at Plymouth Argyle U15s Centre of Excellence.

He will be accompanied in his new role by Tim Hurrell, his Assistant Coach at Falmouth for 12 years, a junior and senior level footballer with a wealth of tactical knowledge as well as sharing Drew’s passion for youth development.

One of the main aims of Mousehole’s Development team, who are members of the St Piran League – is to establish a real platform for players to progress to the club’s First team squad, currently playing two levels above in the Western League Premier Division.

Drew Symons was keen to pay tribute to Falmouth United, “It is a fantastic club, a special place with great people.  It has been a massive part of my life, enabling me to develop as a coach and progress my coaching career.  It was a big decision to leave the club, having now established the adult section, with players who have been with me since the beginning.  It has been a pleasure to coach them all and I wish them every success in the future.” 

He went on to talk about the fresh challenge at Mousehole and the ideas he intends to put into practice:  “Tim and I are looking forward to building a Development squad which replicates the professionalism of the first team.  As coaches who believe in youth development and creating the right learning environment, we are excited to work with the talent in the club and providing a pathway from youth to adult football.  Mousehole is clearly an ambitious club supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, all of which has made the opportunity too good to turn down.”

Drew Symons replaces the management trio of Craig Nicholls, Adrian Ferrell and John McCallum, who have been in charge of Mousehole’s Development Team for two years and took them to a creditable 7^th place  in the League in the season just finished.  Adrian Ferrell and John McCallum have taken over as joint managers at Penzance AFC, while Craig Nicholls is currently considering his options.

Mousehole’s Director of Football Adam Fletcher had this to say about the changes: 

“First of all, we wish Adrian and John all the best in reviving the fortunes of Penzance AFC, and we also hope Craig will be able to make the most of his knowledge and experience.  All credit to those three for recruiting local youngsters into the Development squad and giving them ‘game time’ in men’s football in what is a pretty tough League.”

“We’re now looking forward to a new successful chapter, with Drew Symons and Tim Hurrell joining the club’s coaching team and continuing the trend of developing local talent and pushing them on.

”Two youngsters – Charlie Wills (aged 19) and Jack Symons (17) – have already broken into Mousehole’s Western League squad, making 25 appearances between them last season.  Manager and Head Coach Jake Ash gave Charlie Willis the accolade of ‘Young Player of the Season’ at the club’s recent Awards Evening, while Jack Symons is the son of…….none other than the new Development Team boss Drew Symons.