Bryan Glover joins Town’s Academy staff
Huddersfield Town has appointed Bryan Glover as its new Head of Academy Recruitment.
Bryan has taken on the role, which was vacated by Steve Smith earlier in the summer, with immediate effect and further strengthens Town’s recruitment structure.
Bryan’s primary role is to identify talented young players to join the Huddersfield Town Academy from the Foundation phase through every age group in the structure.
The training and enhancement of the Club’s Academy scouting personnel will also be a key responsibility for Town’s new Head of Academy Recruitment.
Glover worked in the scouting team at West Ham United for 15 years as the Club gained a reputation as one of the leading football Academies in the country, with the likes of Michael Carrick and Joe Cole emerging through the ranks during his time at Upton Park.
Bryan subsequently joined Burnley as a senior member of the Clarets’ scouting team in June 2011 under the management of Eddie Howe, departing his role at Turf Moor following Howe’s return to Bournemouth in January 2013.
Huddersfield Town’s Academy Manager Mark Lillis explained:
“Ross Wilson and I went through a thorough process to identify an appropriate individual for this role at what is an important time in the Academy’s development.
“Despite a number of impressive applicants, Bryan was the outstanding candidate during our recruitment process due to his experience, reputation and track record in the field of recruitment at Academy level.
“He has a very good understanding of the processes and relevant geography through his time at West Ham and Burnley and his footballing ethos fits perfectly with that of Huddersfield Town.
“Bryan will coordinate our recruitment activity throughout all Academy age groups, with a particular focus on the Foundation (8-11 year olds) and Youth Development (12-16 year olds) phases. Furthermore, Bryan will help to assess potential opportunities in the Professional Development phase.
“He will also play a major part in delivering our Academy recruitment strategy by developing and enhancing our existing staffing, expanding our ‘footprint’ in a realistic manner and managing the processes involved in recruiting at Academy level.
“We have made considerable progress in achieving category 2 status, but we still have a long way to go to achieve what we all want here. Bryan’s appointment is one stage further forward for us.”
Bryan commented:
“I’m delighted to be joining such an ambitious club. Huddersfield Town has a growing reputation within football at Academy level and I’m really excited about this opportunity, which will allow me to influence the recruitment strategy at under-18 level.
“Having category two status in the Elite Player Performance Plan, combined with the superb, developing Canalside training complex and a real commitment to developing players, makes Huddersfield Town a very attractive proposition when it comes to recruiting Academy players.”
