Penybont Football Club Academy is proud to announce the appointment of two distinguished individuals who will lead the academy into a new era of excellence.
We are excited to introduce Leon Williams as the Head of Academy who will be supported by Steve Dalton OBE as the Academy Director on behalf of the club board of directors.
Leon Williams, now the Academy Manager and Head of Coaching, brings a wealth of experience from his previous role as the Business Growth & Development Manager at the Cardiff City FC Community Foundation. He has been an integral part of Penybont Academy for over four years, firstly leading the Under 19s to a second-place finish in the Cymru Premier Development League and reaching the final of the FAW Youth Cup for the first time in the academy’s history before taking up post as the Head of Professional Development Phase. Leon holds the UEFA A Licence coaching qualification and is dedicated to developing the footballing talent in Bridgend and the surrounding areas.
“I’m delighted to be given the opportunity to become the custodian of Penybont Academy and thank the Penybont Football Club board for placing their trust in me to lead the future generations. It is important to me that we continue to inspire our local community here in Bridgend, create opportunities for aspirational footballers and develop a pathway from academy football to our first team. I am looking forward to supporting the players, coaches and parents’ journey at Penybont Academy in the years to come. I am really excited to work closely with Steve in the coming months to drive the Academy forward and continue the good work that has come before us.”
Steve Dalton OBE, a highly respected figure in the world of business and community leadership, previously served as the Managing Director of Sony UK Technology Centre in Pencoed. In addition to his corporate achievements, he also played a pivotal role as an independent director of the board at the Football Association of Wales (FAW) from 2019 to 2023, four of those years as chair. His extensive experience and visionary leadership will guide Penybont Football Club Academy to new heights.
“Penybont Football Club are delighted to secure the services of Leon on a full time basis, following his excellent work at Cardiff City Community Foundation. Developing players is an integral part of the strategic plan at the club and one we intend to nurture even further on top of the successes to date. I intend to support Leon and offer guidance where I can to achieve the goals of the club and create the right environment to develop a high class football academy.”
These appointments underpin Penybont Academy’s commitment to providing a nurturing environment for players to thrive and reach their full potential under the guidance of experienced coaches and a visionary leadership team.
Leon will begin a review of Academy operations with immediate effect and then begin his full-time post on Monday 13th November 2023.
