Tony named Lead Professional Development Coach
Huddersfield Town has today confirmed that Tony Carss will lead the Professional Development Phase, which covers the Club’s 16-18 year-old footballers.
Carss, who made 89 appearances for the Club in midfield between 2003 and 2006, initially joined the Academy’s technical staff as a part-time coach in 2007 before being named Professional Development Coach alongside Lead Coach Frankie Bunn in the summer of 2012.
With Frankie now stepping up the age groups to become Senior Professional Development Coach and lead the Club’s Under-21s (ages 19-21 - click HERE for full info), Carss will take the Lead Coach role as Town’s 16-18 year old’s undertake their two year scholarships.
Players from Under-12 to Under-16 are coached within the Youth Development Phase.
As Lead Professional Development Coach, Tony will be responsible for the managing and delivery of coaching on a daily basis as well as managing the Under-18 team in the Professional Development League 2 North, which kicks off on 16 August (fixtures still to be confirmed by Premier League). Town won both the PDL2 North title and the national end of season Play-Off last year (click HERE to find out more).
Tony has already led the Under-18 side in the early 2014 pre-season friendlies; a 4-1 win at Brighouse Town (click HERE for video highlights), a 5-0 win over Wigan Athletic (click HERE for a report) and a 7-1 win over Kirklees College Academy (click HERE for a report).
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Huddersfield Town’s Academy Manager Mark Lillis commented:
“Tony is a natural choice to lead our Professional Development Phase following Frankie Bunn’s move to Senior Professional Development Coach. He’s an excellent coach who knows and understands ‘The Town Way’ after spending the last seven years in our Academy and his appointment offers continuity to the success the Under-18s have enjoyed during the last two seasons.
“It is critically important to continually improve the quality of our coaching and, as with players, that can come both internally and new people joining us from outside. We need to get the balance right and Tony’s appointment is another example of Huddersfield Town’s commitment to developing people within its system, be it players, coaches or off-the-field staff.
“During my time as Academy Manager, Tony has worked hard to develop into a top class coach and he is a first class appointment in the vitally important 16 to 18 phase.”
Check out htafc.com on Thursday for an interview with Tony on his new role.
