Nile John scoops Scholar of the Year award

Nile John has been named as Spurs’ Scholar of the Year.

The 18-year-old midfielder has made huge strides this season, with John’s senior debut coming on as a substitute in the 4-0 win over Wolfsberger in the Europa League. He was also an unused substitute in the last game of the season against Leicester City.

While John started the season with the Under-18s, he was turning out regularly for the Under-23s by January. In all, he made 16 appearances for the Under-18s, including in the FA Youth Cup, in addition to his 10 games in the Premier League 2.

Alongside fellow Hotspur Way prospects Alfie Devine and Dane Scarlett, John was recently named in England’s Under-19 squad. He has now been called up to Young Lions squads at every level from Under-15s through to the Under-19s.

John joined Tottenham Hotspur at the age of seven and looks set to have a very promising future. He is skilful with the ball, quick and has a huge work rate. Despite standing a just 5ft 8 in, he doesn’t shy away from a challenge and is deceptively strong. If he can add more goals to his game, he will be pressing his claims for a regular spot with the first team in the not too distant future.

A full season with the Under-23s may await, but given how quickly John is developing, the club may feel he is ready for first team football and find him a loan move. Either way, we look forward to seeing more of Nile John’s obivous talent over the coming months.

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Academy coaching staff expands with Brill appointment

Leyton Orient’s goalkeeping coach, Dean Brill, will join Spurs this summer to take on a role with the club’s Under-23 and Under-18 squads.

35-year-old Brill joins the Academy coaching team at Hotspur Way and, with 400 career appearences to his name, it is hoped Brill’s experience will aid the development of a clutch of talented goalkeepers in the youth set up.

Brill’s career highlights include a Football League Trophy win with boyhood club Luton Town, lifting the Scottish Cup with Inverness Caledonian Thistle and helping Leyton Orient back into the Football League by winning the National League title.

Brill had originally been brought to Leyton Orient as a goalkeeping coach in 2017 after a bad injury in Scotland, but under former Spur, the late Justin Edinburgh, Brill came out of retirement and became a key member of the league winning side.

Brill retired from playing for good in January of last year to join the O’s coaching staff – speaking to the Leyton Orient website, he said: “It’s been a crazy four years, and to finish back where I started, and to get the experience to go on to try my hand at something else, which is developing young goalies, something I’m really passionate about...It’s so special to see these young players develop, and to pass on your experiences to help them grow.“

Those ‘young goalies’ include prospects Thimothee Lo-Tutala and Isak Solberg and it is hoped Brill’s influence will see a homegrown talent challenge for a first team spot in the coming years.

Welcome to Hotspur Way, Dean!