Newcastle United establish new powerhouse academy recruitment team

The Magpies' quest to become a footballing powerhouse

Newcastle United are actively engaged in building a formidable Academy recruitment team, demonstrating their commitment to long-term success and sustainable growth. With the backing of a Saudi Arabia-backed consortium, the club has set its sights on becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League. After taking over in October 2021, the Magpies have already qualified for the 2023-24 Champions League and now stand in 3rd place in the 2022-23 PL season.

A crucial aspect of Newcastle United's strategy lies in upgrading their scouting and recruitment departments. They have embraced a position-specific model, a departure from the traditional regional allocation system. This shift, inspired by Sporting Director Dan Ashworth's successful implementation at Brighton, aims to maximise the identification and acquisition of talent by allocating staff members to scout specific positions.

To bolster their efforts, Newcastle United have made key appointments, including Josh Appleyard, formerly the Senior First Team Performance Analyst at Norwich City, as a Positional Analyst alongside Oliver Slater from Blackburn Rovers. Appleyard's role involves comprehensive video analysis and occasional live game analysis, with a particular focus on specific positions. He will report to the Lead Video Analyst, Ciaran Hughes, who fills in from Manchester City.

This recruitment drive extends beyond the appointment of Ciaran Hughes. Newcastle has recently added several senior staff members from top clubs to their scouting and recruitment operations. Edward Black, previously Northern England and Scotland Emerging Talent Scout at Arsenal, has become the Lead Academy Scout for age groups ranging from U9s to U14s.

Paul McLaren, formerly the Head Regional Scout at Manchester City, has assumed the position of Head of National Youth Scouting, responsible for age groups from 13 to 18. Paul Midgley, who held the role of Northern UK Youth Scouting Manager at Manchester City, now serves as the Head of Youth Recruitment.

Claire Burrows will manage the Recruitment Operations. She had worked with Leicester City since 2019. Former West Ham's Delroy Ebanks will work as an Academy Lead Scout for the South of England. An internal promotion gives Paul Baker the opportunity to work as the Academy Lead Scout for the North.

These strategic hires, along with the introduction of a position-specific scouting approach, demonstrate Newcastle's commitment to building a formidable Academy recruitment team. Their focus on identifying talent across various positions and age groups signifies a long-term vision for nurturing emerging players and securing the club's future success. By combining astute player recruitment, effective player development, and an enhanced scouting operation, Newcastle United is laying a solid foundation for sustained growth and the achievement of their ambitions.