FORMER Bradford City striker James Hanson has joined some of his fellow former Bantams on the Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy (RIASA) coaching staff.

The youth academy, which is directed by former City winger Mark Ellis, who co-founded the company just over a decade ago, has unearthed some top talents down the years.

The most famous of those was probably Nahki Wells. He moved from Bermuda to England in 2010 to join RIASA, and while he initially played for Eccleshill United, it was clear he had the potential to go much higher.

He soon joined the Bantams, and formed a deadly partnership with Hanson over a three-year period, with the pair vital in helping City to reach the League Cup final and win the League Two play-offs in the 2012/13 season.⁣

⁣Hanson will be able to get guidance at RIASA from fellow former City striker John Hendrie, who is an academy coach there.

The academy's goalkeeper coach is Gary Stokes, who has trained stoppers at City and Leeds United in the past.

RIASA runs from Leeds Beckett University's Headingley Campus.