ACADEMY: Clay Breaking New Ground
- Wealdstone FC
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
WEALDSTONE FC academy set-up has seen one of its own enjoy senior action this season, with 19-year-old Josh Clay backing up his senior debut against Nottingham Forest Under-21s with 90 minutes' more action against West Bromwich Albion 21s in the National League Cup late last month.
It's a testament to the hard work of the youthful defender, who fits training around a busy schedule which includes degree-level studies and delivering coaching sessions for the women's team of the club's main sponsor Brunel University.
"The club have been really helpful letting me balance everything," said Clay, speaking after first-team training at Brunel earlier this week.
"They understand that's a big commitment in my life, being in my second year now. I'm having to rush home early to make my lectures, and they've been really supporting with that."
As student lives go, it's not bad though, is it? Training with Sam Cox's squad and then getting your head down and cracking on with your education - all while finding time to deliver some part-time coaching, too!
"I first joined the academy last season, doing a full season there playing for the 19s and then the 23s," he explained.
"I worked my way up. I worked hard and I know I've still got to work really hard because this is still only the start of the process."
Something Clay is acutely aware of from those initial training sessions with Sam Cox's squad...
"It's a big transition. There's expectations you've got on you, having to be 100 per cent all the time - and the speed of play is a huge gap.
"I've been involved more since September. There was talk at the beginning of pre-season, but with lots of new players coming in, I was waiting a bit."
The teenager, whose studies are at UCFB (University Campus of Football Business), said he's felt very well supported by both players and coaching staff alike.
"It's been amazing working with him [Sam Cox]," smiled Clay.
"I've been at other clubs with other managers where youngsters can feel overlooked, but here he's made time for me not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well."
He added: "The players have been great as well. All the lads have been brilliant, and that means so much to me.
"But perhaps Cookie (Jack Cook) and Enz[io Boldewijn] especially, some of those senior guys; they've been so good with me."
"A dream come true" is how Clay describes his Stones' first-team debut - a substitute appearance back in October's National Cup game against Nottingham Forest Under-21s - but there's much to do.
"It sounds so cliched to say it, but I've just got to keep working hard, because that's the only thing that will get me where I want to go."
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Like the sound of Josh's story?
Right now, the Stones are actively looking to recruit youngsters aged 16-23 for programmes that offer pathways for the next Josh Clays.
With Wealdstone's Under-19 team now competing in The National League Youth Alliance competition, the highest category of competitve youth football outside the EFL, the pathway from academy scholar to first-team involvement is getting stronger and stronger at the club.
Facilities for study and sport such as those offered at Brunel University, Wealdstone's main partner and front-of-shirt sponsor, will inspire that mix of eduction and football excellence.
View Stones' academy opportunities for the 2026/27 season here: