‘Set-piece’ coach Clapham leaving after one season
NOTTS County have confirmed the departure of first-team coach Alex Clapham after a single season at Meadow Lane.
The 33-year-old oversaw the club’s set-pieces and also contributed to opposition analysis. Clapham also supported former Notts head coach Ian Burchnall and his assistant head coach Michael Doyle as part of Burchnall’s backroom staff.
That role also included assisting with individual player development plans and coaching as well as providing tactical and technical advice on match day last season.
Burchnall and Doyle have both since left to join Forest Green Rovers but Clapham’s new destination remains unknown at this stage.
In a 32-word statement, the club confirmed that Clapham leaves to “take up a post with another club” and departs with their best wishes.
“First-team coach Alex Clapham has left Meadow Lane to take up a post with another club,” it reads.
“Alex joined us at the beginning of the 2021-22 season and departs with our best wishes.”
Club captain Kyle Cameron has also wished the coach well following the announcement. “Good luck Alex Clapham, all the best on the next chapter, you’ll be a miss!”
Clapham also posted a statement on social media to coincide with the announcement.
“It’s time for me to move on from my role at Notts County,” the tweet reads.
“It’s been an honour to represent the oldest professional football club in the world. Huge thanks to the fans who supported us in record-breaking numbers! Good luck to all there. I’ll be supporting from afar.”
The coach, who already has his pro licence, has previously held head coaching positions overseas with Spanish club Getafe’s under-19s team.
During more than seven years spent coaching on the Iberian Peninsula, Clapham attained UEFA’S highest coaching qualification as well as undertaking a study placement at the Atletico Madrid academy.
Clapham also led the Swedish fourth-tier side Ytterhogdals IK before becoming part of Burchnall’s backroom staff.
At Meadow Lane, the ‘set-piece coach’ oversaw a marked improvement in the club’s quality in these situations at both ends of the pitch, as per Notts County Stats.
Notts scored 26 goals from set-pieces situations last season, which was seven more than during the previous campaign. Defensively, they conceded 17, a five-goal improvement on the 202021 season.
Corners were a particular area of improvement, with Burchnall’s side scoring four more goals from those situations last season than the one before.
Notts also managed to not concede from a single throw-in during the 202122 campaign after seeing goals come from these scenarios twice the season before.