FORMER Nottingham Forest striker Lee Glover is looking forward to the challenge of bringing on the next generation of Brewers stars.
After joining Burton Albion’s Academy set up as head of coaching and becoming part of Academy manager Mike Whitlow’s team, Lee is looking forward to bringing his coaching skills and playing experience into play for the Brewers.
He said: “I will be mainly working with the youth team and will be involved in player development which I’m used to, working closely with Mike and the rest of the team.
“The key part is to develop players to the standard where they can join the first team and may possibly be sold on. That’s what warrants a youth policy and putting all that time and effort into it. We know what our targets are and we are trying to get the best players we can to come into the Academy and from there work them up to the required standard.
“I have just finished six years at Derby and have seen the likes of Will Hughes come on. To see players as young lads and then follow them through to their first team debut is very rewarding.”
Lee enjoyed an eight-year career at Nottingham Forest before moving to Port Vale, Rotherham and Macclesfield.
He says: “It’s a bonus if you can share experiences of having played the game but having been in youth development for a while now I have learnt that letting them have ownership is the main thing. You can show them the way but they have to push themselves on.
“Supporters love to see a local lad come through and as the club goes up a level we have to make sure the Academy does well in terms of developing players to fit the league they are in. It’s something the Academy has to match.”
Lee had a brief spell with Burton Albion under Nigel Clough but things have changed a lot since 2002 when the Brewers were still playing non-league football at Eton Park.
Lee says: “It was at the end of my playing career and things have moved on. Now it’s a beautiful stadium, the first team is in League One and the esteem the club is held in and the way it is pushing itself forward is very important. It’s a club that’s going forward and there is a positive feeling about the place.”
Lee was a professional footballer for 16 years and therefore knows what it takes to make the grade.
He says: “That’s what the lads are aiming for and I will keep reminding them every day of the process and the need to hit targets. I will tell them not to think about the outcome too much but to work on the process and the outcome will take care of itself.
“Hard work is a given, every player should know they have to work to the maximum during a game. We have that ethos in the academy and the first team have it. We will liaise with the gaffer and see what the first team are doing so when we do move people forward there is a pathway and they know what’s happening.”