Rochdale Football Club can confirm that Tony Ellis will step down from his role as Academy Manager in the coming weeks.
Since joining the club in 2007, Tony has led the development of the club’s Academy to become one of the most productive in the country.
The work of Tony and his team over the years has seen scores of young footballers progress through the Academy and into the Dale first team, with many moving on to play higher up the pyramid at financial benefit to the club.
This model has been instrumental in the successes of our recent history, with the likes of Jamie Allen, Callum Camps, Luke Matheson, Connor Ronan and many more proving to be shining examples of our Academy system.
Further to those, countless other players that have come through our system have also found opportunities both at home and abroad, following their development at our club.
Tony commented: “It comes with a heavy heart that I have decided to leave my role as Academy Manager at the club.
“Including my playing stint, I have been at this club for almost 20 years, and I have absolutely loved my time here.
“I am proud of the work myself and the Academy staff have put in throughout the years to grow the Academy and produce the talent we have.
“Since 2013, when the Centre of Excellence changed to the Academy setup, over 800 appearances have been made by Academy players or graduates.
“It has been a pleasure to work with some great players and people, and I owe a great deal of thanks to all of the staff I have worked with, without who our successes would not have been possible.
“I would like to thank everybody associated with the club for the opportunities and the continued support I have received during my time here. I can’t underestimate the impact it has had on me personally and professionally.”
Chairman Simon Gauge commented: “It is with great sadness that Tony has decided to leave the club.
“We owe him a deep debt of gratitude for his tireless work over the years, the results of which are evidenced by the sheer number of players he and his team have developed.
“He has been part of the fabric of the club during some of the most successful times in our history and should be held in the highest regard by us all.
“We will invite Tony back to a home match towards the start of the 2023/24 season, to allow him to say his goodbyes and for supporters to show their appreciation.
“As previously confirmed, the Academy will continue to run at Category Three level for the 2023/24 season, and work is already underway to ensure a smooth transition following Tony’s impending departure.”
We would like to thank Tony for his unwavering dedication and commitment to the club during his time with us, and wish him all the best for the future.
