A FORMER TNS analyst is looking forward to helping Brentford stay in the English Premier League next season.

Joe Newton, a former Wrexham Glyndwr University footballing student, has spoken of his pride at being part of the backroom team during the London club's rise to the Premier League.

The 25-year-old enrolled at the university in 2014 after his release by Tranmere Rovers and gained a Sports Science Degree while undertaking performance analysis work for Welsh Premier League club TNS.

Border Counties Advertizer: Joe Newton his days as a Wrexham Glyndwr University football student.

After gaining his Masters, Joe was successful in gaining a Performance Analysis role with Championship club Brentford FC with whom he celebrated promotion to the Premier League at the end of this season, beating Swansea City in the play-off final at Wembley.

He said: “I applied for a couple of jobs, including Brentford but didn’t think I’d get anywhere near it.

"The jump was huge – the hours involved, the need for things, the technology and software I had access too was just crazy, everything was next level.”

After experiencing defeat in the play-off final in 2020, and the club losing key players to other teams, Joe and the backroom team were tasked with picking the squad ahead of what was to prove the most successful season in the club’s modern history.

Border Counties Advertizer: : Former Wrexham Glyndwr University student Joe Newton in his role as a Performance Analyst at Brentford FC.

He said: “We had 10 days off in total. Then straight back in. To bounce back the way we have, not making automatic promotion, losing the play-off final, losing Said Benrahma and Ollie Watkins, then bedding in new signings like Ivan (Toney), to bounce back was brilliant.”

Joe’s advice to anyone looking to follow his career path is to consider what Wrexham Glyndwr University has to offer.

He said: “Even more so now I’d say the football and sports science course is probably better suited to that hands-on experience in football whether that be coaching, or analysis.

“There are very few universitues that have links to such an organisation like the Football Association of Wales.

"From an analysis point of view, that was literally priceless for me and the access to Colliers Park – that’s the biggest thing for me as well as getting hands-on experience.”

Joe has nothing but praise for the work of the university.

Border Counties Advertizer: Brentford goalkeeper David Raya Martin lifts the trophy as they celebrate promotion to the Premier League after winning the Sky Bet Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday May 29, 2021..

He said: “I like technology, I like being on my laptop, watching football, and the Sports Science Degree gives you experience doing everything – coaching, physiology, psychology, but analysis was the one I really enjoyed the most.

“Pam Richards, who has now left, was my personal tutor and I remember she introduced me to the links with the Welsh FA.

“It was Pam who made me aware of the opportunity with TNS once I graduated, that I could do my Masters fully-funded by TNS and work with them throughout.

"Everywhere I looked for jobs they were asking for two years’ experience, so I knew I’d have to go out and get experience, and the TNS role was the best of both worlds, getting the qualification on top of the experience, going hand-in-hand on the CV.

Joe said the working relationships at Brentford had contributed to the club's success.

Border Counties Advertizer: LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 29: Thomas Frank, Manager of Brentford celebrates after winning the Sky Bet Championship Play-off Final between Brentford FC and Swansea City at Wembley Stadium on May 29, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty

“At Brentford we have a really good relationship with the coaches," he said. "We can go directly to the manager Thomas (Frank, manager), assistant Brian (Riemor) or coach Kevin (O’Connor) with little things you know they’re working on with the players, and you provide the clips for them to help them.

“Through the week I produce reports, but my main focus is after the game, the de-brief – taking care of everything post-match, how we performed in our game plan and pattern of play.

“Then there’s training, clipping out bits that the manager asks for and sharing with the players."

The rewards for a performance analysts may take time to come to fruition but Joe said it is worth the long hours.

Border Counties Advertizer: Brentford Community Stadium. Picture by Andy Scott.

He said: “It’s very rewarding when you see the players do something in a game and you’re like, ‘I helped with that’.

"The first time it dawned on me was with Said Benrahma last year, trying to get him to run to the far-post on the last line of defenders.

"The first game against Fulham away last year after lockdown, he scored a goal by doing that, after the week or two previously I’d sent loads of clips to Thomas (Frank) of other elite players doing the same and then we saw it happen in a game.”