Barclay: I love learning from progressive Albion coaches

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Defender enjoying return to Albion.

Luke Nicoli

2025-11-08T07:00+00:00

Ben made his professional debut for Albion in 2018, in a League Cup match against Southampton. 📷 by Graham Hunt.

After five successive away games, Ben Barclay and the rest of our men's under-21s are looking forward to being back at home on Sunday.

Albion take on Manchester City at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre (3pm) in PL2 on Sunday and Barclay, the squad’s over-age player, says the run of road trips wasn’t something he’d experienced before.

“I’m still getting tested on the pitch and also off it, and the run of five away games has being something I’ve never experienced before. I’ve seen more of my teammates than my own family of late with lots of coach travel and overnight stays, but I’ve loved the challenge. I now want to keep playing my part as we look forward to the rest of the season.”

The last of those five away games against Cambridge United in the Vertu Trophy on Wednesday ended in a 1-0 defeat. The experienced defender played in all three group games yet it’s not his first taste of the competition, having played for Accrington Stanley and Carlisle United where the boot was firmly on the other foot.

“I played against the likes of Man United’s 21s, Forest and Liverpool, so I have seen both sides,” says the 29-year-old. “I remember in those games it being a different test to what I’d become accustomed to in the Football League. All of a sudden you’re playing against young teams that are looking to build out from the back predominantly, and against some very good technical players who are often trying to play their way out of trouble.

“You therefore pose them a different challenge, and certainly the physical aspect is different to what they would have been exposed to before, along with experience and know-how that they’re coming up against.

“That’s exactly what our young players have come up against this season, which can only be a positive for them moving forward. We might not have got the results we’ve wanted, but it’s been a really good taster for them to see what the Football League is going to look like on a Saturday at 3pm.”

Ben Barclay returned to the Albion after spells with the likes of Accrington Stanley and Carlisle United. 📷 by Paul Hazlewood.

Albion finished bottom of their group, but Barclay feels the young Seagulls have given a good account of themselves in all three fixtures.

“There are huge positives to take from the games,” he added. “Against Barnet we were unlucky. We went 1-0 up and created some good chances, especially in the second half.

“Luton was a really tough task against a side that was in the Premier League two years ago and which fielded a number of players with Championship experience, but other than their two first-half goals we were in the game. Against Cambridge, after a slow start, we hung in there, kept it at 1-0 and played some good possession-based football at times.

Ben made 22 league appearances for Carlisle United last season. 📷 by James Boardman.

“We spoke in the changing room after that game about the positives we can take, given we’ve played such a young team in all three games. That can only benefit the players moving forward.”

Barclay has been one of the standout performers in the side with his experience shining through. He is clearly enjoying being back at the club as he eyes up a coaching career further down the line.

“How could you not enjoy yourself?” he smiled. “I’m coming into a great environment every day and I’m still learning every day, believe it or not. I’m learning from some excellent and progressive coaches, which will hopefully help me in the future, and it’s also a pleasure working and playing alongside so many good, young talented players.”