This week we welcome Joe Harvey, Head of Pre-Academy Recruitment at Norwich City. Joe is a strong advocate for a child-first approach, making sure that enjoyment, wellbeing, and development come before results. In our conversation, he talks about what good recruitment looks like in the academy system, why creating the right environment matters so much, and how to keep the joy of football alive for children stepping into those first stages of the pathway. It’s a reminder that when we put the child before the player, everything else follows!