Jon Rudkin became Academy Manager in June 2003. Rudkin, who was released as a schoolboy from the City youth system himself when he was 16, has gone full circle to take charge of the Academy set up at the Belvoir Drive training ground. After working as a coach on a part-time basis Rudkin took up the full-time post of Head Coach at the then centre of excellence six years ago.
During that period the Foxes have been blessed with a number of outstanding talents which have progressed from the Academy to the first team - including Emile Heskey and Matthew Piper. And now Rudkin is hoping he can keep that conveyer belt running to produce further stars of the future. His aim is to produce players who will go through the under-17s, under-19s, reserves and progress into the first team squad.
Jon holds the UEFA A licence and has recently completed taking the Academy Director's licence. Jon is based at Leicester City's training facilities at Belvoir Drive and his vision for the Academy is to attract the best young talent to Leicester City from across Leicestershire and further afield. He will be working with development centres and fostering new links with local schools and clubs at junior level. Jon and his team have also spread the net wider in terms of development centres within 60 minutes travelling time of the Walkers Stadium. Jon was given the mandate and budget to ensure the academy is compliant with the regulations which allows the club to retain its youth academy licence - qualified coaches, pitches and facilities - and to develop the whole infrastructure locally and within the UK.
Jon is looking to keep that conveyer belt running to produce further stars of the future.
STEVE BEAGLEHOLE - ASSISTANT ACADEMY MANAGER
Steve joined the Foxes in October 2000 to work in the Academy and has progressed since then to assist Jon Rudkin in bringing through the best young players on Leicester's books. After holding youth team coaching positions at Doncaster Rovers and Middlesbrough, Steve became reserve team coach at Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, where he worked with Alan Hill, the former Leicester Academy Director.
His managerial experience included a spell in charge of Doncaster, his hometown team, between 1991 and 1993. He was promoted from youth coach after the departure of boss Billy Bremner and was one of the youngest managers in the league, younger even than some of his players. In his only full season in charge, the team finished five places higher in Division Three so progress had been made.
One of his best moments there was when he guided the youngsters to the FA Youth Cup Final against Arsenal. Steve holds a degree in Sports Science and is also a qualified Physical Education teacher. He became the youngest person to obtain the 'A' licence badge at the age of 21. His playing career included appearances for England at Under-18 and Under-19 level and he turned out in the reserves for Barnsley and Sheffield United.
TREVOR PEAKE - ASSISTANT ACADEMY DIRECTOR
Trevor joined the Academy at Leicester in the summer of 2003 after a long and distinguished playing career. The Nuneaton-born defender, who won the FA Cup with Coventry in 1987, clocked up a massive 731 games in 19 years. He began in non-league football with his hometown club but made his name with Lincoln City, joining them in 1979 for four seasons and making almost 200 appearances.
A £100,000 move to Coventry propelled Trevor into the top flight of English football. Signed by Bobby Gould, he was an integral part of the Sky Blues side that avoided relegation. He made his debut against Tottenham in August 1983 and it was the same opposition that provided him with his best moment in a Coventry shirt, four years later when at Wembley, against a star-studded Spurs side, Coventry won via an own goal in extra time, to lift the FA Cup. Trevor spent eight seasons at Highfield Road making well over 300 appearances. He moved to Luton in 1991 for £100,000 and went on to become the Hatters' skipper. Trevor established the record as Luton's oldest ever league player at the age of 39 years and 17 days and made a total 202 appearances for Luton before becoming their reserve team coach.
He returned to Coventry as a coach before moving to City where he is now hoping to bring through Leicester's next crop of talented youngsters.
CHRIS TUCKER - SCHOOLBOY COACH
Chris has been with Leicester City since 1990, where he first worked as a coach in the school of excellence. He now works as the coach and kit co-ordinator.
Born in Leicester in 1946, Chris played football for a number of local clubs including Coventry City Youth. In his time he has played and worked alongside a wealth of well-known footballers, including Bobby Charlton, David Nish, Steve Hunt, Tony McAndrew and Kevin McDonald. That experience has allowed Chris to gain a variety of training and coaching qualifications, including the UEFA 'B' badge and the SAQ award.
KEITH BURLAND - HEAD ACADEMY PHYSIOTHERAPIST
Keith joined LCFC in October 2003 as Head Academy Physiotherapist. He qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist in 1995 from Pinder Fields College of Physiotherapy. Since then he has worked in various settings including the NHS, private practice and amateur rugby union.
Keith is responsible for the overall physiotherapy treatment of Academy players aged 9-19.
Jon Rudkin became Academy Manager in June 2003.
Steve joined the Foxes in October 2000 to work in the Academy and has progressed since then to assist Jon Rudkin in bringing through the best young players on Leicester's books.
Trevor joined the Academy at Leicester in the summer of 2003 after a long and distinguished playing career. The Nuneaton-born defender, who won the FA Cup with Coventry in 1987, clocked up a massive 731 games in 19 years.
