Cambridge United add to coaching staff

Pilkington and Halsall arrive as Davies departs

Kevin Pilkington and Mick Halsall have been added to the Cambridge United coaching team.

Pilkington comes in as the new goalkeeping coach, replacing Martin Davies who is joining Swansea City, and Halsall arrives as first-team coach.

Pilkington started his playing career at Manchester United, but is most commonly associated with Mansfield Town and Notts County.

He joins the U’s from the Magpies, where he previously worked alongside United manager Shaun Derry.

Halsall brings a wealth of experience from a 20-year coaching career, which includes spells as head of academy coaching, academy manager and joint caretaker manager at Notts County, where he moves to the Cambs Glass Stadium.

“We are delighted to have secured the services of Kevin and Mick,” said Cambridge United chief executive Jez George.

“We thank Notts County for allowing Kevin to take up this position so quickly and we could not have recruited a better replacement for Martin Davies.

“He has worked with Shaun previously and comes to us with an excellent reputation within the game.

“Mick’s appointment fills a role that we have been discussing for some time.

“He will add a wealth of knowledge and experience to our first team coaching staff, will be an excellent foil for Shaun and Joe (Dunne, Assistant Manager), and will further strengthen the developmental pathway for our young players. Mick is a proper football man, a great character and showed a real desire to join the club.

“We welcome them both to Cambridge United and look forward to working with them.”

Davies has left United after eight years as a goalkeeper coach, working at every level of the club’s football operation.

He made 16 appearances for the club as a player, and rejoined the U’s in 2008 on a part-time basis with the youth development scheme.

Davies progressed to a full-time role within the academy and then the first team.

He will become the under-23 goalkeeper coach at boyhood club at Swansea City.

“Martin is a fantastic man of the highest integrity, an incredible work ethic, eye for detail and desire to teach,” said George.

“He has a huge contribution to the development of Will Norris over the last four years and we thank him for his overall contribution during his time with the club.

“Whilst we are disappointed to lose him, Martin leaves us with our sincere best wishes to pursue a role at Swansea City.”