David Rainford appointed Brentford Academy director | OneFootball

Brentford has appointed David Rainford the club’s new Academy director.

Following a thorough recruitment process, Rainford’s experience made him the perfect person to carry on Brentford Academy’s mission to be admired as the most caring and progressive academy in the world.

Rainford makes the move to west London after working at the Premier League as head of education and academy player care since 2020.

He has been a part of the Premier League’s football department since 2017 and previously served as director of sport at an inner London school.

At the Premier League, David led the development of the National Duty of Care provision within the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP), strengthened transition pathways, and enhanced aftercare and life skills provision for Academy players.

Rainford’s experience in leading the development pathways and support networks for players will transition strongly to Brentford Academy’s ambitions for our young footballers.

A former professional footballer, Rainford played for Colchester United and Dagenham and Redbridge, captaining the latter in the EFL.

Speaking on Rainford’s appointment, director of football Phil Giles said: “On behalf of everyone at Brentford I’d like to welcome Dave to the club. Everyone I spoke to during the recruitment process spoke extremely highly of Dave and his work at the Premier League over recent years – he is an extremely impressive person.

"He already has good relationships with people at the club going back many years, for example he played with our B-team head coach Sam Saunders at Dagenham and Redbridge, so I’m expecting him to integrate seamlessly.

"I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank Jamie Greenwood for his outstanding work as our interim Academy director since last September. Jamie will remain an important member of the Academy as we strive towards Category One status in the future.”

David Rainford added: “I’m incredibly proud and excited to be joining Brentford. The club’s culture, ambition and values strongly resonate with me, and I’m highly motivated by the opportunity to lead an Academy that embodies that identity, both on and off the pitch.

“After nearly a decade at the Premier League, helping to shape the national system and the EPPP, I’m looking forward to bringing that experience into a club environment, working closely with our aspiring players, staff and families to maximise potential and help create a world-class development programme.”

Rainford will join Brentford in early spring 2026.