Brighouse Town left back Sam Reed’s move to Sheffield Wednesday finally went through last Thursday when he signed his maiden professional contract with the Championship club.
Reed, 20, son of Town’s assistant manager Stacy Reed, will initially bed in at Hillsborough in the club’s Under-21 squad. He was brought to the Yorkshire Payments Stadium three seasons ago by his father who was also coaching the U-18s at Stocksbridge in South Yorkshire. Over those seasons he has grown in stature, confidence and heaps of skill and was being noticed earlier this past season by Derby County, Sheffield United and Wednesday. The Owls opted to invite him to train full time with them from January onwards while he was still playing with Town and saw enough, aided by some games for the U-21s, to see he would be an asset to them.
“Sam came to us through his dad, but his success has been down to him and the hard work he has put in,” said manager Vill Powell, who began his own playing career at Wednesday.
“He came to us never having played men’s football before, he listened and showed the right attitude.
“He wasn’t too precious when we dipped him and out the team and from there he has built up. We have had him for three years and he’s developed into a fantastic young man and person as well as a fantastic player.
“To get a contract with Sheffield Wednesday is a massive achievement and we are really proud of him.”
His dad said the whole family were still pinching themselves that Sam had earned himself the chance to become a fulltime professional and with Sheffield Wednesday and would be right behind him all the way in the weeks and months ahead.
In the meantime Town played a pre-season friendly at Campion in the Manningham district of Bradford last Friday night and lost to a second half goal by their prolific scorer Marcus Day.
Town had their own chances to score but failed to find the net and picked up a couple of injuries, and with holiday calls they had to call off this past Tuesday evening’s away friendly at Worksop Town.
The squad enjoyed their Footgolf on Saturday lunchtime at Bradley Park Golf Club, followed by lunch at Rastrick Cricket Club and then went over to Leeds for a bonding session in the evening.
At this moment in time before their first Pitching In Northern Premier League East Division league game at Ashington on Saturday, August 12, they now just have Guiseley at home on Saturday week to prepare in match conditions.
In the meantime co-chairman Chris Lister has completed a sponsorship deal for the club’s away kit with National Build Ltd.
The club is mourning the death last week of their former long serving secretary Malcolm Taylor at the age of 84. He gave over 11 seasons to the club until 2016 and prior to that was working with the West Riding County Amatuers, the NCEL and was also a great worker in the girls and women’s football as it grew season upon season.
His funeral will be held on Tuesday, August 15 at Park Wood Crematorium, Elland, at 11.15, followed by a celebration of his life back at the Town clubhouse.
There will be an obituary next week on this tremendous work for the club and grassroots football as a whole.
