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Lee Darnbrough

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Lee Darnbrough
Born (1977-09-15) 15 September 1977 (age 47)
Ashton-under-Lyne, England
EducationUniversity of Leeds
OccupationAssociation football scout

Lee Darnbrough (born 15 September 1977) is an English association football scout and recruitment officer, who is the Head of Recruitment at EFL League One club Port Vale.

Darnbrough played non-League football as a goalkeeper at Garforth Town, before being employed as an analyst at West Bromwich Albion in 2004. He spent eight years at the club before working as Head of Recruitment at Burnley from 2012 to 2015. He spent 2015 to 2017 as Head of Scouting at Norwich City. He spent the next seven years as Hull City's Head of Recruitment, before eight months in the same role at Stoke City. He joined Port Vale as Head of Recruitment in June 2025.

Early and personal life

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Darnbrough was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, but was brought up in Mossley. Before his scouting career, he was on track to become a professional footballer, playing as a goalkeeper. He came through the National School of Excellence in Lilleshall, run by the FA. However, his chances of succeeding were soon cut short when he broke his wrist at the age of 19. He was unable to return to form after recovering and swiftly retired.[1][2] He has supported Oldham Athletic since childhood.[2]

Career

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Darnbrough continued playing at a non-League level, with Garforth Town, whilst studying sports science at the University of Leeds. Upon graduating, he joined the player performance analysis group ProZone in 2000. Initially working with Bolton Wanderers and later Aston Villa, he joined West Bromwich Albion in 2004 to become their Head of Performance Analysis. In 2009, he was promoted to West Brom's Head of Technical Recruitment.[1][3] He was appointed the new Head of Recruitment at Burnley in November 2012.[4] He left the club after their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2014–15 season.[5] In July 2015, Darnbrough joined Norwich City as their Head of Scouting.[6] He left the club in April 2017.[7]

Following their relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2016–17 season, Hull City appointed Darnbrough as their new Head of Recruitment.[8] Across seven years in the East Riding of Yorkshire, he worked with five separate managers; Leonid Slutsky, Nigel Adkins, Grant McCann, Shota Arveladze, and finally Liam Rosenior.[9] In June 2024, Darnbrough replaced the outgoing Jared Dublin as Head of Recruitment at Stoke City.[10][11] Coincidentally, Dublin then took Darnbrough's old position at Hull two months later.[12] After less than a year with the Potters, the club parted ways with Darnbrough in February 2025.[13][14] In June 2025, Darnbrough joined newly promoted League One side Port Vale under Darren Moore, despite the club's rivalry with previous employers Stoke.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b Bugby, Tony (10 February 2009). "Career switch a hit for Lee". Oldham Chronicle. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b Buckingham, Philip (23 June 2017). "Lee Darnbrough has been appointed head of recruitment at the KCOM Stadium". Hull Live. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  3. ^ "Lee Darnbrough". ex-canaries.co.uk. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  4. ^ "Burnley appoint new Head of Recruitment". Burnley Express. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Darnbrough leaves Burnley ahead of McParland arrival". Lancashire Telegraph. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Lee Darnbrough joins as Head of Scouting". Norwich City F.C. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Norwich City: Alan Irvine disappointed by Ricky Martin departure". BBC Sport. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  8. ^ Buckingham, Philip (20 June 2017). "City have a new head of recruitment as Darnbrough gets the job". Hull Live. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Head of Recruitment Lee Darnbrough to depart". Hull City A.F.C. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Darnbrough appointed Potters' Head of Recruitment". Stoke City F.C. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  11. ^ "Stoke City appoint Lee Darnbrough as new Head of Recruitment". BBC Sport. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Jared Dublin appointed Head of Recruitment". Hull City A.F.C. 14 August 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Lee Darnbrough to depart Potters' role". Stoke City F.C. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  14. ^ "Head of recruitment Darnbrough departs Stoke". BBC Sport. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
  15. ^ Smith, Peter (5 June 2025). "Former Stoke City head of recruitment joins Port Vale". Stoke on Trent Live. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
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