Gary McDermott, Brentford U18s head coach: My mid-season reflections

Reflecting on the 2025/26 season to date, Brentford Under-18 head coach Gary McDermott says the group has made “some really big strides”.

Playing across the Professional Development League (PDL), PDL Cup, FA Youth Cup, London Senior Cup, Middlesex Senior Cup and games abroad, the young Bees have enjoyed a games programme full of tests to aid their development as they look to rise through the ranks.

An influx of first-year scholars joined the existing members of the squad in pre-season, and McDermott said the group has consistently improved across the campaign so far.

“They’ve made some really big strides. We’ve got some players that really care about their development, want to get better, will watch clips, and we’ve then got a staff group that really wants to support them,” explained McDermott.

“They’ve made some really big strides. We’ve got some players that really care about their development, want to get better, will watch clips, and we’ve then got a staff group that really wants to support them'

“When we play games, we’re really dominant now with the ball, which is great. I think there’s only been one or two games this season where we’ve had less possession than the opposition.

“The next bit for us is probably more defending the box in terms of long balls and then finishing the attack.”

Now seven months into the role, McDermott and the staff group have settled into another season in west London.

Assistant coach Kieran Driscoll joined the ranks in pre-season from Everton, while goalkeeper coach Daniel Hill, Individual Development Plan (IDP) coach Jon-Paul Pittman, and analyst Harry Rose each returned. McDermott said the group have built a strong bond this season.

“There are quite a few new faces and some who have been here before. The chemistry is really good, we have a laugh together,” he said.

“What I like is that we’re constantly talking about the players and what we can do to support the players more, looking at different tours we could go on or how we can change certain sessions.

“Myself and Kieran both travel some distance, we have a 5:45am phone call nearly every morning, just finalising plans, looking at different things that we’re going to do, so we’ve got a really good relationship.

“JP is the linchpin of the detail in the IDPs; what he sends out monthly is phenomenal. Dan is 'Mr What Next' - he’s been great, really thoughtful, he will sit down on a Saturday night after the game and do clips.

“Harry works really hard doing the analysis and sending clips, so we all get on really well, and that feeds into the players as well because they know we’re cohesive.”

The start of this season has seen U18s players Luka Bentt, Michel Boni and Otis Honor step into Sam Saunders’ B-team set-up in training and games.

Under-16s players have also featured for McDermott's side, highlighting players’ abilities to play across age groups.

“We’ve got some boys in that B team group that are 21, 22, so for Luka, Michel and Otis to get that opportunity to go up against men more and test themselves is really good for them,” McDermott explained.

“For us, we want to make sure we’re looking after every player. The opportunity and the pathway is there.

“We’ve mentioned the boys that have gone to the B team to train and play, we’re kind of looking to the Under-16s to play.

“We had five U16s starters in our last line-up against Cardiff, we’ve had Dylan Danso play, we’ve had Jai Nwosu play, so we’re trying to see that potential, and we love seeing players play across age groups.”

Nwosu started up front for the Bees in their recent FA Youth Cup loss to Chelsea, a strong challenge for the rising striker.

McDermott said the experience of playing in front of a packed-out Wheatsheaf Park is one that will help the players moving forward.

“It’s really hard to replicate that in the programme, so that is why we go and do tours abroad,” he said.

“The experience was really good and you’re always up for those occasions. Certainly as a coaching staff and a support staff, we put a lot into that and it showed on the pitch.

“We tried to nullify Chelsea’s strengths and then, with the ball, maybe we could have been a bit braver.

“They’re just experiences that are really hard to replicate. We're gutted that we’re out and we won’t get that opportunity again, but amazing for the players and to compete like that was really good.”

Tours abroad to Portugal in pre-season and Copenhagen have provided further tests for the players and staff, foreign conditions and a different style of football challenging them on the pitch.

“It was great to get the boys together in Porto, get the staff together, learn more about each other away from the club,” said McDermott.

“I’ve got a nice photo of the lads just being free on the beach together, so that’s a really nice moment that we all cherish together.

“We played Porto, we played really well in that game, and they’re one of the top-tier teams in Portugal, so to test ourselves was fantastic.

“The Copenhagen game was also really good, a test without the ball."

Looking ahead to the rest of the 2025/26 campaign, McDermott said players and staff would keep their heads down and continue to work hard.

“The other night has probably shown the level we can get to as a group,” he said. "Some of the players put in really good performances, so I’m really looking forward to capturing that and helping them progress

“We’ve got a really good staff group here that I know will not take their foot off the pedal in trying to support the boys.

“The lads themselves really want to work hard and really want to get better.”

McDermott and the Bees return to action on Saturday 10 January as they travel to face Swansea City in PDL action at the Joma High Performance Centre.