Richard Beale Joins as U18 Head Coach, With Boateng Role Revealed

Former Birmingham City Development Coach Richard Beale has joined Aston Villa, whilst George Boateng’s coaching role has been revealed.

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Following the appointment of George Boateng as a coach within Aston Villa’s academy set-up, it has been confirmed that Richard Beale has also joined the club as Under 18’s Head Coach.

Beale is an experienced Academy Coach who recently left Birmingham City after being their Senior Professional Development Coach since 2003.

During his time with Blues he helped oversee a number of academy players elevations into the first team at St Andrews. He was instrumental in the development of players such as Jack Butland, Nathan Redmond and Demarai Gray who all graduated from the academy at St Andrews.

Beale was controversially suspended by the club last season despite being given clearance by the club to attend a charity day aimed at raising funds for mental health charities. Beale had lost a close friend to suicide and the event organised was a second annual day to raise funds in his memory. It was a five a side game in which then Blues manager, Garry Monk took part in. It coincided with Blues Under 23’s divisional play off fixture with Leeds United, which Blues eventually lost on penalties. He had sought permission by the club to miss the Under 23 play off game and had been granted permission however was subsequently suspended by the club.

This was a key moment in Garry Monk’s breakdown in relationship with Blues’ owners as Monk was close to the highly thought of academy coach. 

Beale departed Blues on July 4th only 2 weeks following Garry Monk’s departure. Beale guided his young guns to their highest league position in several years and also to the national play off final. 

He joins Villa following David Hughes departure to Southampton and will work closely alongside George Boateng in the new look set up in the Villa academy as Mark Harrison and the club look to improve Villa’s academy in the hope many more graduates can make the step up to the Villa first team.