New Role at Reading Football Club

I have been working as a Scout for Reading for over 10 years. Since 2022, I have been First Team Scout, working with the Head of Player Recruitment, Brian Carey to identify players for our First and Under 21 Men's teams.

In August 2025, following the takeover of the club by Rob Couhig, my role has increased to also encompass Data and AI. My new role (First Team Scout and Data / AI Lead), gives me responsibility for building a new strategy to utilise data and AI on the football side of the club. My colleague, Stuart Fenton (Director of AI) is responsible for our AI strategy across the whole club (including Fan Engagement, Stadium Facilities etc) as well as working with me on the Player Recruitment Strategy.

Our aim is to identify the best sources of data and the best data analysis and AI tools to create a new innovative process for identifying and nurturing playing talent. We will be working with partner organisations, data providers and AI vendors to ensure that we are able to stay one step ahead of our competitors in the League and to ensure that our Category One Academy continues its reputation as a Centre of Excellence for Coaching, Player Development and Technology Innovation. If you wish to talk to me about my football work and role, email me at nbaggott@readingfc.co.uk