As the EFL celebrate Youth Development Week, we sat down with academy graduate, Kai Andrews to discuss his journey so far.
The midfielder joined the Sky Blues when he was 11-years-old and as progressed through the ranks, going on to make his debut against Middlesbrough back in August, a few days after his 17th birthday.
Since then, the midfielder has been part of the FA Youth Cup side, the Under-21s side and has gone on to feature for the first team again, against Rotherham United.
His journey since joining the Sky Blues Academy…
“It began as an 11-year-old at a Saturday league tournament where I got the opportunity to go out on trial and I was picked up by a scout.
From there, I earned my scholarship as a 15-year-old and my professional contract as a 17-year-old and obviously I’m still at the football club and hoping to develop even more.”
How the Academy helped him develop…
“When you’re in the academy for so long, alongside full-time education and training four or five times a week with a game on the weekend, you learn so much as a player and as a person.
You understand the game even more and you develop your skills even more and it’s helped me a lot.”
How important it is to have made his debut and represent Wales…
“It’s been an amazing season; I would never have dreamt of this at the start of the season.
It’s been unbelievable, it’s two milestones in my career that I will never forget, and it will stay with me forever.
Playing in front of thousands of people and getting a feel for the ball in front of all the fans, that was an unbelievable experience and also getting the chance to play for my country was amazing and an honour.”
Training with the first team…
“Every day you train around some of the best pros here, they’re unbelievable and it really shows the level I need to get to and the gap that I need to bridge.”
Aims for the rest of the season…
“I just need to keep developing at the first team training ground and get as much experience as I can and learn from them and then try and get some more minutes on the pitch if I can.”
