Manchester United star Scott McTominay has hailed the club’s former youth academy coach Warren Joyce as one of the key driving forces behind his breakthrough at Old Trafford, labelling him as the man who “transformed” him as a player.
In what is probably one of the longest interviews McTominayhas ever given in his time as a professional footballer, the Man United central midfielder and Scotland international recently sat down with Jake Humphrey’s High Performance Podcast to shed light on his career so far.
Clarifying that it was his podcast debut, the 26-year-old spoke candidly about his physical struggles with growing as a young player, dealing with the pressure from fans, his relationship with ex-manager Jose Mourinho and more — including the people who helped him become a Premier League footballer.
While he noted several names in United‘s youth academy that he “couldn’t speak highly enough of”, McTominay singled out long-serving coach Warren Joyce who changed everything for him.
As he goes on to detail in the episode, the now first-team starter says that he remembers playing in the youth team for Paul McGuiness (former pro and fellow academy coach) and getting “roasted” by Joyce in front of “everyone” at half-time.
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“I wasn’t even playing that bad” — and his teammates agreed, says Scott — “[but] he just roasted me, he ridiculed me, he said: ‘You play like you won’t ever get nowhere’, something along those lines. A little bit too forceful but at the time it was just a test.”
Once you “move up to Warren Joyce”, McTominay says, “he does that every week. That’s the norm, so he was just preparing you for what’s to come and at the time I didn’t realise that.”
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McTominay went on to describe the Oldham-born academy drill sergeant as just that: “ruthless… running; all the games he would be on the sidelines screaming”. However, he reiterated that the treatment simply gets players ready for men’s football, stressing that “it’s never going to be all sunshine and rainbows when you go out on loan because that’s not football; people are playing for their lives, the mortgages, the kids, their family”.
Put simply, the number 39 said that once it became clear what he was trying to teach he just “bought into every single thing he ever told [him]” from that moment onwards and, even though he was only 16-18 years old, remained at the mercy of his gaffer, no matter the position or the words he used.
🚨🎙️| Scott McTominay: "People always say, 'you played as a striker when you were young'. That's not true. I played two games with Warren Joyce because we didn't have a striker. Every time I score a goal, people say that, but I've never been a striker. I've always been a… pic.twitter.com/yPfJLsY4Qv
Scott McTominay the goalscorer is still a relatively new side of him but a lot of that comes down to Warren Joyce too.
When asked if he thought such a constant and brutal approach was necessary or if there are other ways to go about steering a youth prospect in the right direction, he did concede that it isn’t one size fits all and it sometimes depends on the characters of those people, but he always knew he was trying to help.
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But it wasn’t just grillings and critique that the ex-Bolton centre-mid served up, McTominay revealed that he was a taskmaster in a different way, often telling him to go and target a senior player to “show him who’s the man” — something helped instil an extra level of confidence as he moved up the youth setup.
He even discussed how Joyce would come and drag a player out of the team jacuzzi if he thought they were getting too big for their boots or didn’t train hard enough to have earned the relaxation, adding: “He was brilliant with stuff like that, he would never let anyone get too comfortable.
“He would always say that the thing about the ‘Billionaire’s Club’: those players are in there because they’ve earned it and they’ve grafted their whole life to be like that”.
McTominay went on to declare Joyce “the best person that any young player could go and see in terms of being coached by”, crediting him with “transforming [his] brain” and how he thought about football as a whole.
Strong words indeed and by no means the first to echo them. Club legend Gary Neville told United writer Andy Mitten back in 2017, a few months after he was appointed the first-team manager of Wigan Athletic: “Warren was absolutely brilliant in the very difficult role of reserve-team coach.
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“He was excellent at man-managing individuals who were hovering and drifting between the ages of 19 and 21. They’d be going out on loan, they’d have had a taste of the first team and the buzz of playing for the reserves will have worn off because they want to be playing in front of big crowds for a first team.
“It can be an uncertain time for a player but he motivated them mentally and physically. He maximised the players’ talents, he’d push them like crazy; he’d do extra gym work and join in with the players as if to say, ‘We’re in this together’.
McTominay concluded the section on the youth ranks by stating, “The coaches at United are the best in the world at making young footballers feel like they can do anything and also not getting them too much on their high horse, because they’ll bring you straight back down to Earth and level you straight away”.
He reeled off the likes of former U23 coach, Neil Ryan, fellow academy stalwart, Dave Bushell, and Paul McGuiness as other figures who helped not only nurture talents and keep egos in check around the club, and it’s clear that the discipline trickled down from Joyce and Sir Alex Ferguson above him.
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Joyce remained at the club for another three years after Fergie retired but it’s clear that the same rigorous philosophy he ensured was maintained throughout the academy is still felt by many of the players and staff.
Now in charge of the Nottingham Forest B-team and helping hand academy graduates first-team minutes, we’re sure there’s a whole new generation of players getting the trademark Warren Joyce treatment and hopefully many more Scott McTominays who’ll thank him for it down the line.
Featured Images — High Performance Podcast/Nottingham Forest (via YouTube)
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Every bit of live entertainment coming to Haydock Park Racecourse this summer | The Jockey Club Live 2025
Danny Jones
With festival season officially underway and a music-filled summer approaching faster than Stone Folca down the final furlong, we’ll take any chance to sing and dance under the sun we can get, so it’s a good job that what’s on at Haydock Park Racecourse this year is great and there’s plenty of it.
That’s right, The Jockey Club Live experience at Haydock Park is back for 2025, and there’s another incredible lineup of acts joining the punters over the next few months.
Having already seen the likes of Craig David, Busted and the Sugababes, as well as rather fittingly named local band, Red Rum Club, most recently, we’ve had some ruddy good times soaking up The Jockey Club festivities and libations, and this year is already off to a storming start.
You can catch a glimpse of our latest visit to the races down below for a taster. In short, it was a blast.
As you can see, not only are the spirits high and free-flowing (if you catch our drift) at Haydock Park, but there’s more than just racing and betting slips when it comes to what’s on there during the summer.
In addition to plenty of food and drink, every year as part of their Music Night programme, The Jockey Club well and truly puts the Live in ‘live entertainment’ with a whole host of big names.
For instance, here’s who is coming up at Haydock this summer…
What’s on at Haydock Park Racecourse this summer?
Tom Jones – Friday, 4 July
Perhaps the biggest name on the bill this year is the legendary Welsh soul singer and pop veteran SIR Tom Jones; that’s right, you could be in the presence of a real knight this July.
The 85-year-old who has enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades on stage clearly couldn’t get enough the first time around, as Mr ‘Sex Bomb’ himself is coming back to the racecourse for a full headline slot as part of his ‘Defy Explanation’ tour.
Speaking ahead of another visit, he said: “Performing live is the centre of my life and I’m really pleased to be returning to Haydock Park Racecourse to play to such a welcoming audience. The Jockey Club Live shows are exciting dates in my calendar – the fans really enjoy the day, so [they] are always sensational.”
‘I can’t wait to spend a Summer’s evening with everyone this July.’ (Credit: Raph_PH via Flickr)
Becky Hill – Friday, 8 August
A month later, you can catch a contemporary pop queen and fellow British chart favourite, as solo star Becky Hill will be heading to Haydock for a headline performance of her own.
The Bewdley-born singer-songwriter and regular dance track feature artist already has 22 top 40 songs to her name and is pushing even further into the electronic music scene of late, with one of her newest hits, Swim’, becoming another big hit.
Jockey Club said of her date: “We’re so excited to be welcoming Becky and her phenomenal live show to Haydock Park. Tickets start from just £40, continuing our reputation for providing value-for-money entertainment destination for the region and beyond.”
‘With thousands of tickets for Red Rum Club sold in the presale alone, we’re urging fans to secure their spot for next summer soon to avoid disappointment.’ (Credit: Press shot supplied via Chuff Media)
Next up: Jamie Webster – 21 June
But before both of these big British names is a local Merseyside legend, as indie guitarist and Liverpool-fan anthem specialist Jamie Webster will be heading down the road for what is sure to be a very popular night on home turf.
The ‘Weekend In Paradise’ and ‘This Place’ singer may have got his break performing to supporters around Anfield, but his music journey since then has been nothing short of remarkable – a real Northern, working-class success story in action.
Our Audio North team spoke to Webster ahead of his Haydock Park show on Saturday, 21 June and let’s just say we’re now more invested than ever in hearing Jamie play his third studio album, 10 For The People, for… well – you get it.
Better still, the party doesn’t stop once the summer is over, as The Jockey Club Live will be holding a number of other events throughout the rest of the year, not to mention all the usual horse-racing action at Haydock Park.
You can find out more information on the above and everything else on at the racecourse, as well as grab tickets to any of the dates that take your fancy right HERE.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press shot (supplied)
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‘Best signing of the summer’: Stockport County fans react to Dave Challinor’s new contract
Danny Jones
Stockport County fans are buzzing with their first and arguably ‘biggest’ signing of the summer, as manager Dave Challinor has penned a new contract at Edgeley Park.
The majority of match-goers in Stockport have fallen in love with Challinor over the past few years, with the former County centre-back having now spent nearly four years as the boss and overseeing one of the best periods in their history during that time.
With seven promotions across four different clubs, three of those coming at Edgeley Park, he’s been touted as one of the EFL‘s most underrated and quietly successful coaches in recent times.
All that being said, and with the 49-year-old now signing a new deal at the club, supporters like those behind the popular The Scarf Bergara Wore fan podcast have said, “Could be the best signing of our summer, that” – a similar sentiment has been echoed in pretty much everyone’s reaction.
Congratulations to Dave, a superb manager – would expect Stockport to play in the Championship in that time. Not many can say they’ve had success everywhere they’ve been, but he can
As you can see, while some jokingly said they were waiting to hear former Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry had been re-signed, the overwhelming consensus is that this is “superb news” for the thriving Greater Manchester side.
Having only just missed out on yet another promotion, which would have seen SCFC back in the Championship after more than two decades (having last spent time in the second division during the 2002/23 campaign, lasting just one season), keeping him tied down wasn’t a certainty.
The Chester-born ex-pro turned manager has attracted plenty of interest since his heroics at AFC Fylde and now at Stockport County, but owner and Vita Group founder, Mark Stott, as well as CEO Simon Wilson and the rest of the board were more than ready to reward his efforts with a new three-year deal.
If all goes to plan, this will see him remain at the club until at least 2028 if they make it into the Championship as planned, who knows how much longer after that.
Speaking on the new contract, Dave Challinor said via an official club statement, “I’m delighted to extend my stay at the Club beyond the end of the upcoming season. Last season gives me even more motivation to improve and aim to meet the shared objectives we have.
“I’m still highly ambitious, and feel that what we have built here over the last three-and-a-half years makes County somewhere that I want to continue to build, alongside my staff, players and everyone involved at the Club.”
‘Chally’ went on to add: “Last season gives me even more motivation to improve and aim to meet the shared objectives we have.
“I’m still highly ambitious, and feel that what we have built here over the last three-and-a-half years makes County somewhere that I want to continue to build, alongside my staff, players and everyone involved at the Club.
“A manager’s tenure at any football club is getting shorter and shorter, and I feel proud to have been at Edgeley Park for as long as I have. That comes from the trust placed in me by Mark and Simon to come in and have a positive impact, and I thank them both for that.”
Danny Jones -
17th January 2024 
