Nicky Weaver is stepping down from his role as Head of Academy Goalkeeping at the end of the season.
Sitting down for an exclusive in-depth interview with swfc.co.uk, Weaver detailed his decision whilst looking back on the lifelong love affair with his boyhood club.
He said: “It’s a lot of personal reasons. Last year I lost my brother which has obviously had a massive impact on my family’s life. It makes you prioritise certain things and makes you realise how important other things are, like spending time with your family. I have two young kids and I want to spend as much time as I can with them.
“Physically, I had six operations on my knee as a player and as a goalkeeping coach you have to be relatively active, I’ve struggled over the last few months. It’s something that’s not going to get any better and not something where I can have a quick operation and it will be better. It’s an accumulation of the operations and playing for almost 20 years and it’s taken its toll.”
A dedicated blue and white servant man and boy, Weaver will depart S6 with nothing but fond memories.
Born into a Wednesday family, the aspiring shot-stopper stood on the Hillsborough Kop in all weathers before living the dream by trading the terraces for the turf.
Weaver would enjoy two separate spells with Wednesday, registering 58 appearances before moving to the other side of the white line.
He continued: “I’ve just loved my time here. I’m so lucky to have played for Wednesday in two different spells, I’ve got some fantastic memories. So when I got the opportunity to come back as a coach it was something I jumped at.
“It’s come to its natural end really, I’ll have done 10 years as a coach and 19 years as a player and it’s time to move on. I don’t see myself coaching again but you never say never. It’s not as if I’m leaving to get another job, I want some time for myself and time with my family. What happens after that happens, I’ve been doing some media work with Manchester City which I really enjoy and I’m just looking forward to the next chapter.”
Going down memory lane, he added: “My memories of Sheffield Wednesday go back to when I was a kid. My Dad used to bring me and my brother when we were little. I remember standing on the Kop before it had the roof, then the late 80s and early 90s was a fantastic era for the club, I went to Wembley four times in ‘93 and the League Cup final before that.
“So to eventually play for Wednesday was just a dream. I’m sure there’s loads of kids now sitting on the Kop dreaming of playing for Sheffield Wednesday and that was me.”
Weaver will see out the season and bid fitting farewells at Middlewood Road – which will remain his happy place:
“I’d like to thank all the managers I’ve worked for, and Dean Ramsdale for giving me the opportunity as a coach with the academy. I’ve loved working with Steve Haslam, who does a great job leading the academy.
“I’ve known Steve for 30 years, me and Steve were here together in the School of Excellence as 13-year-olds. I’ve really enjoyed working with Steve, all the staff and all the goalkeepers. I’d like to think I’ve passed on a bit of knowledge I’ve picked up over the years.
“I won’t be a stranger though. My kids are Wednesday fans, my son is actually in the academy right now so I’ll still be knocking around the place!
“It’s been a fantastic journey for me with Wednesday. I’ve stepped up to the first team for spells as well as coaching the academy keepers, under Jos Luhukay, Steve Bruce, Neil Thompson and Lee Bullen as interim managers, Darren Moore and more recently Danny Röhl. I want to thank everyone I’ve worked with and wish everyone at Wednesday all the best for the future.”
Everybody at Sheffield Wednesday would like to thank Nicky for his services and wish him the very best of luck for the future.
