Huddersfield Town F.C. Reserves and Academy
Encyclopedia
Huddersfield Town Development Squad and Academy are the "reserve" and academy teams for the League One
club Huddersfield Town
.
The club
have not entered a team into a reserves league since the 2009-10 season
, and have been replaced by the Huddersfield Town Development Squad, playing a number of arranged friendlies during the season.
The academy team plays in the Premier Academy League Group D
and is only for players below the age of 18. Home games are played at the club
's training ground, Storthes Hall.
when the Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark chose not to enter a reserve team in the Central League during the 2010-11 season
, instead planning a series of high quality friendlies. Clark stated that "the idea of reserve team football is to bridge the gap between youth team and first team football" and that "[we] have faced a lot of very young sides in the reserve league this season and that will not provide our own young professionals with the test they need".
Whilst playing at reserve league level, the reserves split their home games between A.F.C. Emley's Welfare Ground and the Galpharm Stadium
.
First team coach Paul Stephenson was the last serving reserve team manager.
. Following a behind closed doors games at Doncaster Rovers
, Watson described the team's games as "working very well", "from both perspectives - fitness for our first team squad members and as a way of integrating the younger players into a higher level of football."
Most fixtures have so far been played behind closed doors, but occasionally the Galpharm Stadium
has been used to host Development Squad games that are open to the public.
first team players and former players including former England under-21
players Andy Booth
and Jon Stead as well as current first teamers Nathan Clarke
, Tom Clarke
, Alex Smithies
, Liam Ridehalgh
and Jack Hunt
, and former Irish Under 21 internationals Michael Collins and James Berrett
.
The Academy are currently managed by former Town Academy product and first team player Graham Mitchell.
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
club Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
.
The club
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
have not entered a team into a reserves league since the 2009-10 season
2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
, and have been replaced by the Huddersfield Town Development Squad, playing a number of arranged friendlies during the season.
The academy team plays in the Premier Academy League Group D
Premier Academy League
The Premier Academy League is the top level of youth football in England. It is contested between the Academy sides of The Premier League and some Football League clubs, including Welsh side Cardiff City...
and is only for players below the age of 18. Home games are played at the club
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
's training ground, Storthes Hall.
Reserves
The Huddersfield Town reserves competed in the The Central League Division One East until the 2009-10 season2009–10 in English football
The 2009–10 season was the 130th season of competitive football in England.The season began on 8 August 2009 for the Championship, League One and League Two and 15 August 2009 for the Premier League...
when the Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark chose not to enter a reserve team in the Central League during the 2010-11 season
2010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
, instead planning a series of high quality friendlies. Clark stated that "the idea of reserve team football is to bridge the gap between youth team and first team football" and that "[we] have faced a lot of very young sides in the reserve league this season and that will not provide our own young professionals with the test they need".
Whilst playing at reserve league level, the reserves split their home games between A.F.C. Emley's Welfare Ground and the Galpharm Stadium
Galpharm Stadium
The Galpharm Stadium, formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, is a multi-use sports in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. Since 1994, it has been the home ground of Huddersfield Town and Super League side, Huddersfield Giants.-The Stadium:...
.
First team coach Paul Stephenson was the last serving reserve team manager.
Honours
- The Central League Champions: 1914-15, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1930–31
Development Squad
Lee Clark saw through his idea to discontinue the reserve team, and subsequently created the club's Development Squad, to be managed by Development Coach Steve WatsonSteve Watson
Steven Craig "Steve" Watson is a former English footballer, who retired after being released by Sheffield Wednesday on 15 May 2009. As of November 13, 2010, he is the Development Coach at Football League One side Huddersfield Town.-Playing career:Watson began his career with Newcastle United,...
. Following a behind closed doors games at Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, Watson described the team's games as "working very well", "from both perspectives - fitness for our first team squad members and as a way of integrating the younger players into a higher level of football."
Most fixtures have so far been played behind closed doors, but occasionally the Galpharm Stadium
Galpharm Stadium
The Galpharm Stadium, formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, is a multi-use sports in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. Since 1994, it has been the home ground of Huddersfield Town and Super League side, Huddersfield Giants.-The Stadium:...
has been used to host Development Squad games that are open to the public.
Academy
The role of the Huddersfield Town Academy is to develop players and their abilities to their full potential for the club's first team. The Academy has produced a number of current Huddersfield TownHuddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
first team players and former players including former England under-21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
players Andy Booth
Andy Booth
Andrew David "Andy" Booth is a retired professional footballer. Whilst at Huddersfield he announced his retirement on 22 April 2009, but remains at the club as an ambassador.-Huddersfield Town:...
and Jon Stead as well as current first teamers Nathan Clarke
Nathan Clarke
Nathan Clarke is a professional footballer who currently plays in central defence for Macclesfield Town on loan from Huddersfield Town in Football League One in England.-Playing career:...
, Tom Clarke
Tom Clarke (footballer)
Thomas "Tom" Clarke is an English professional footballer who plays for Leyton Orient in Football League One on loan from Huddersfield Town...
, Alex Smithies
Alex Smithies
Alexander "Alex" Smithies is a professional footballer with League One side Huddersfield Town. An academy goalkeeper who first came into prominence during the 2007–08 season, after second choice goalkeeper Simon Eastwood injured his foot.-Early life:Smithies grew up in Golcar, in the Colne Valley...
, Liam Ridehalgh
Liam Ridehalgh
Liam Mark Ridehalgh is a professional footballer who plays for Swindon Town as a defender on loan from Huddersfield Town.-Huddersfield Town:...
and Jack Hunt
Jack Hunt (footballer)
Jack Paul Hunt is an English footballer who plays for Huddersfield Town in Football League One as a defender. Hunt is a versatile player who can play on the right of either defence or midfield, where he can showcase his general all-round athleticism.-Huddersfield Town:Having joined up with...
, and former Irish Under 21 internationals Michael Collins and James Berrett
James Berrett
James Trevor Berrett is a professional footballer currently playing for League One side Carlisle United and the Republic of Ireland U21 as a midfielder.-Breakthrough to first team:...
.
The Academy are currently managed by former Town Academy product and first team player Graham Mitchell.