Glentoran has announced that midfielder Josh Kelly has been appointed as the Academy’s dedicated Strength and Conditioning Coach.

This appointment represents another significant step in Glentoran’s ongoing strategy to strengthen its Academy, as the club continues to build a modern, high-performance environment for its young players.

Josh will combine this new role with his full-time professional playing contract at the club, bringing his expertise as a qualified strength and conditioning coach alongside the knowledge and experience gained as a senior player in the Sports Direct Premiership.

Having successfully returned from a long-term ACL injury in the summer, he will also pass on valuable insight into the physical and mental resilience required to succeed as a professional footballer.

Josh will work directly with Glentoran’s NIBFA National Youth League and NIFL Academy squads, delivering structured programmes focused on strength, conditioning, athletic development and minimising injury risk.

Speaking about his appointment as Glentoran Academy’s dedicated Strength and Conditioning Coach, Josh Kelly, said: “When Jacko first approached me about taking on this role, I was genuinely delighted. It’s clear there’s a real ambition to keep building a modern, elite environment where young players can develop and prepare for senior football.

“The Academy already has a fantastic reputation for producing talented players who have gone across the water or progressed into the first team here at Glentoran. I’ve seen first-hand the drive to keep raising standards and giving these players the very best support and preparation. To be part of that is something I’m taking very seriously and I’ll give this role the same level of commitment I give to my playing career.

“Strength and conditioning plays a huge role in preparing young footballers for the demands of the modern game. It helps build strong foundations, reduce injury risk, boost performance and develop the habits needed to become professionals. My goal is to support the next generation and help them build the platform they need to thrive in a high-performance environment.

“This role will not affect my playing career in any way as that remains my main focus. It is also a brilliant opportunity to look to the future and develop skills that will give me career options when my playing days are over.”

Michael Jackson, Academy Manager at Glentoran, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have Josh on board in this role. His appointment is another important step in our commitment to delivering the highest standards of physical development and performance support for our Academy players.

“Over the past 18 months, the club has invested significantly in cutting-edge performance technology and analysis platforms. This is about ensuring our young players get the maximum benefit from that investment through expert, player-focused coaching that helps them reach their full potential.

“Josh’s experience, both as a professional player and a qualified strength and conditioning coach, will bring another layer of expertise to the Academy and help prepare our young players for the physical demands of elite football.”

Paul Millar, Sporting Director at Glentoran, said: “This is another important step in raising standards right across the club. Josh is a model professional and a fantastic example to our young players. His attitude, work ethic and professionalism are outstanding and he brings real insight into what it takes to compete at senior level.

“Importantly, Josh is also an experienced and highly respected strength and conditioning coach in his own right. His appointment reflects not only the trust we have in him as a player but also the value of his expertise in an area that plays a vital role in modern football.

“This move is fully supported by Declan Devine, who has been instrumental in strengthening the connection between the Academy and the first team, and it builds on the outstanding work led by Michael Jackson to modernise and professionalise the Academy structure.”