There’s a terrific interview with Matthew Briggs on FFCTV this afternoon as the former Fulham left back discusses his new role within the club’s category one academy as a player care mentor.
The Wandsworth-born defender held the record as both Fulham and the Premier League’s youngest ever player for twelve years, after coming off the bench at Middlesbrough in the final game of the 2006/07 season, until teenage winger Harvey Elliott’s debut in April 2019. Briggs made a total of thirty appearances at Craven Cottage before being released – and had spoken in recent years about the lack of pastoral support that accompanied his meteoric rise from academy prospect to top flight footballer.
Now 32, Briggs was appointed to his new role with the Whites last month as Fulham continue to upscale their off-field support to the next generation of academy graduates. He was overwhelmed with the welcome he received from the fanbase after announcing a return to his boyhood club on social media and there can be few more qualified mentors for young footballers than someone who has been through the ups and downs of professional football from a young age.
