Brentford have appointed Dave Rainford as their new academy director, replacing Stephen Torpey who left in September to take on the same role at Manchester United. The Bees conducted interviews in January before settling on Rainford, who will begin his role in the spring.
The 46-year-old former Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder joins from the Premier League, where he served as head of education and academy player care since 2020. His role involved working closely with academies across England, with a particular focus on player pathways.
Jamie Greenwood, who has been interim academy director since Torpey's departure, will remain at the club in a full-time position once Rainford starts. Brentford reopened their academy for the 2022-23 season, achieved category two status in July 2024, and applied for category one status in September 2025.
Rainford, born in London, previously worked as a teacher and was assistant manager of Chelmsford City in 2012-13. While playing for Dagenham in 2008 and teaching at a local school in Barking, he was briefly the only semi-professional footballer in the EFL.
