Hull City Academy are delighted to announce that Chris Butt has joined the coaching staff as Head of Academy Goalkeeping.
The 27-year-old will take charge of the goalkeeping department at the academy, replacing the recently retired Neil Sullivan.
Academy Manager Richard Naylor said: “Chris is a young and up and coming coach, who has some bright ideas. He has a real understanding of long-term development for goalkeepers, as he has worked his way up the age groups at both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United. I am looking forward to working with him.”
Born in Chesterfield, Butt was a goalkeeper in his playing career, featuring in the non-league scene for Parkgate, Sheffield FC and Brighouse Town among other clubs. He began his coaching career in January 2015 as a Casual Community Sports Coach at Chesterfield.
Later becoming Foundation Phase Academy Coach and Emerging Talent Centre Lead Goalkeeping Coach for Chesterfield, Butt joined Sheffield Wednesday as a part-time Foundation Phase Academy Coach in October 2017.
Spending just under five years with the Owls that saw him also be Youth Development Phase Academy Goalkeeping Coach and Foundation Phase Manager, the 27-year-old joined Sheffield United in June 2022 as the Academy Goalkeeping Coach.
Helping the Blades’ academy win the national Under-21 Professional Development League title last season, Butt will link up with a familiar face in goalkeeper Callum Yam at the club, who joined the Tigers from Sheffield United in January 2024.
“I am really pleased to be joining and I would like to pass my thanks onto those that put the trust in me to do the job,” said Butt.
“Since the new ownership has come into the club, there has been a clear evolution of playing style for the first team, and that is something that I have seen filter down through the academy, which was a big attraction in coming to the club, so I am really excited to be here and I look forward to getting started.
“It is an important job, particularly with the style the club is wanting to play, so it will be an important role within the club and something that I am looking forward to. I am looking forward to having the responsibility on my shoulders, being able to manage not only the older boys, but influencing all the academy age groups with goalkeepers, because there are some talented goalkeepers across the pathway from Under-9s all the way to the Under-21s.
“I know I am young in terms of coaching age, but I think I have got a lot of experience. I have got the experience working with all age groups so I can keep a close eye on that, because it is really important we get it right in those foundation ages. I am looking forward to being around the PDP coaches day-to-day and improving on things that have already been done, and hopefully I can bring a few fresh ideas to the club.
“First and foremost, I want to have a good pre-season and make sure that all the goalkeepers are firing on all cylinders, and see if we can seek out suitable loans for some of the boys for their development. I want to make sure that I am settled into the club with the goalkeepers and the wider staff across the academy. Once pre-season is out of the way, I will be looking at long-term projects and hopefully create a sustainable development programme for the goalkeepers for the club.”
