Barnsley Football Club announce key positions in our Academy.

Joining the Club as our new Senior Professional Development Coach, is Nicky Eaden who returns to Oakwell after 22 years!

The 49-year-old enjoyed close to a decade in the first team at the Club, making well over 300 appearances, most notably helping the Reds to promotion to the Premier League in 1997.

Eaden has spent time with the likes of Rotherham United, Coventry City and Leicester City in a coaching capacity, whilst most recently spending a year in Jamaica with Mount Pleasant.

Also making a return to the Club is Nick Colgan, who joins as Academy Goalkeeping Coach. The Irishman, now 48, spent four years at Oakwell between 2004 and 2008, famously helping the Reds to promotion in the 2006 League One Play-Off Final.

Nick has previously enjoyed coaching spells with Huddersfield Town, Wigan Athletic and most recently, at Nottingham Forest.

Academy Manager, Bobby Hassell expressed his delight at adding two vastly experienced individuals to the ranks, who bring a wealth of knowledge back to a Club they proudly represented in their playing careers.

“Both have obviously played for the club, but Nicky has also been in the shoes of the under 18s having come through the academy here to get to the first team, so it’s ***** from that aspect and, ultimately, they’re both highly qualified coaches with lots of experience of working in academies and at first team level.

“I’m over the moon that they’re both here. Nick Colgan was initially just coming in to help at the end of last season and he’s committed to staying on now; he’s probably one of the best goalkeeping coaches I’ve seen.”

Stay tuned to our official channels next week for interviews with both Eaden and Colgan as they settle into their new roles here at Oakwell.