Terriers introduce B team as academy is revamped
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN want to become “one of the best academies in the country” at bringing through youngsters after abandoning their development side to set up a B team instead.
The Terriers have restructured this summer, returning to the head coach set-up they abandoned to bring Danny Cowley to the club as manager in September. Cowley was sacked at the end of the season and his replacement Carlos Corberan will have a role more like David Wagner had when he brought Huddersfield into the Premier League.
With finances ravaged by the coronavirus, the appointment of former Leeds United Under-23 coach Corberan looks set to signal an even greater emphasis on bringing through young players, and the B team is designed to expose them to more time training with the seniors.
Danny Schofield, who worked alongside Corberan at Thorp Arch, has been promoted from under-19 coach to lead the new team, who will train alongside the seniors at Canalside on a daily basis with the aim of implementing a clear, more expansive style throughout the club.
“Our youngsters will be closer to the first team than ever before and will see day in, day out what it takes to start regularly for this club,” explained academy manager Emyr Humphreys.
“It also provides a real alignment and insight for them, so when they’re called upon by Carlos, they will know exactly what to do in sessions and what’s expected from them in games.
“We believe our academy model can really benefit Huddersfield Town in the long term and we want to become one of the best academies in the country with the transition to the first team.
“Huddersfield Town B is the best way to give young players the best possible training, alongside matches against top opposition.”
Brentford are the only other Football League club with a B team, as opposed to the under-23 sides common in the modern era. Town revamped their youth setup in September 2017, which saw the formation of their under-19 and under-17 teams which will continue beneath the B team.
The B team will play in a variety of competitions such as the Premier League Cup, with the aim of playing against high-level European opposition when covid-19 protocols allow, plus lower-division first teams. Youngsters will still go out on loan.
Eleven Huddersfield academy graduates played first-team football last season, led by Lewis O’Brien, with 14 in matchday squads.