Why Huddersfield Town head coach Martin Drury's football story shows he is no rookie and deserves respect

Some have unfairly thrust the 'rookie' tag onto the new Huddersfield Town head coach’s shoulders.

A look at his footballing CV suggests that is doing him a considerable disservice.

The Yorkshireman's coaching career has been an extensive one. Life in that regard does not begin at 40.

In his journey so far, he has worked in the academy set-up at one of the biggest club's in world football.

Drury has also served as an assistant head coach at a current Premier League club and has La Liga experience with one of the most successful former Town managers of modern times.

He has also managed in the National League North alongside a number of seasons with Bradford City's academy.

He is now head coach of his hometown club and apprenticeship has been vast and rewarding.

Drury said: "I feel a little bit long in the tooth, to be honest. I've experienced quite a lot of stuff.

"I've been coaching for, say, 15 years, so I've worked with some wonderful people, wonderful players and staff. I've failed a lot and then had some moments of success.

"It was a difficult time at Bradford; a brilliant club, but a difficult time.

"And then football's a funny old game, right? Five or six years later, I'm in Spain and I'm with Carlos (Corberan), and we're stood in the Bernabeu playing against Real Madrid (with Valencia) and winning that, which was an unbelievable experience.

"I've had some really, really low times in football.

"I've also had some unbelievable high times in football, but I value every single one of them.

"As for being fazed now, there aren't many things I haven't seen. I mean, it's some story, isn't it? You're at Bradford Park Avenue, then going to the Bernabeu.

"I've probably seen more than most. I'm trying to do the best work I possibly can and help these players and help this club be successful.

"I've had many, many experiences, and there's not too many people that I've come across that I've not enjoyed working with.

"So, yes, I feel really fortunate and grateful for those experiences and hopefully I can use that moving forward."

Drury's right-hand man is Jon Stead, who also has Huddersfield Town in his blood and hails from Honley.

The pair have forged a strong working relationship through 2026. Six months in and it's already been a highly eventful year in their working lives.

Entrusted with the interim position after Liam Manning was granted a period of compassionate leave in the spring, the duo are now striking out on their own and pouring all their energies into turning around Town after two pretty disappointing seasons upon the club's return to the third tier.

Their spell in charge late last season, while not perfect for sure, saw some encouraging signs.

Take away some badly-timed concessions towards the end of games and Town may have taken their play-off fight right to the end.

In seven third-tier matches leading the Terriers at the end of the 2025-26 season, the duo lost only once.

They made a positive impression in the club's corridors of power and on the training ground daily.

Now, they have the chance to truly carve out a niche as a managerial partnership as pre-season begins shortly and preparations for the 2026-27 campaign crank up.

Drury continued: "I think we balance each other quite well. I think Jon's got a lovely way about him and he's been there longer than I was as a player.

"I think he can relate (to players) and I think he's got a really good way about him. He's also a very, very good coach.

"I've been around people like Carlos, who is very, very demanding and who works with real intensity and I've probably been influenced from my past experiences, both at Manchester United, then at West Brom and with Carlos, then at Valencia.

"So I think we've both been influenced in different ways and I think we've got a relatively nice balance between us. We're both obsessed with football and both obsessed with working with players.

"We love players. We love being with players on the grass. We love trying to help make players better.

"We love trying to give them a platform to go and perform from. As for 'good cop, bad cop', I'm not too sure. But I definitely do think we do balance each other off quite well."

Town have already been active in the close season with Ashley Fletcher, 30, arriving on a free transfer.

Meanwhile, Alfie May, 32, who only joined on a three-year deal last summer, has rejoined one of his former clubs in Doncaster Rovers on loan for the 2026-27 campaign with further movement expected in both directions as Drury and Stead build a side in their own image.