HARRY Brockbank has left Bolton Wanderers to launch a new career in the United States.
The Bolton-born defender has cancelled the remainder of his contract and is understood to be talking to a USL Championship side about his next move.
Joining the club at the age of seven, Brockbank graduated through the academy and helped David Lee’s Under-23s lift the Professional Development League title in 2018.
Brockbank then made 36 senior appearances for the club in three different divisions and captained the much-loved ‘Junior Whites’ side that turned out at the start of the 2019/20 campaign.
Away from the pitch he has also been Wanderers’ mental health ambassador, working with Bolton in the Community to help groups around the town.
“I’ve achieved everything I set out to do as a young lad. You can’t ask for much than to captain your hometown team and get a promotion before the age of 23,” said Brockbank.
“There have obviously been a lot of ups and downs along the way but plenty more ups than downs and now I’m ready for a new chapter, a new start and a lifestyle change.
“I’ll certainly be back to watch the boys and I will always be around but it’s time for a new challenge and with the opportunity that’s hopefully coming up it’s something that really excited me and I’d be stupid to turn it down.”
Ian Evatt added: “Harry has been a Bolton player for a long, long time, someone who lives locally with a great affiliation for the club,” said Evatt.
“Having had a chat with Brocky about his future we both feel it’s probably time for him to get an opportunity to further a career elsewhere.
“There’s talk of him maybe going to play in America which is good for him – with a lifestyle change and a culture change – and we wish him all the best and thank him for everything he’s done.”
After a short loan spell with Salford City in early 2019, Brockbank made his debut for Bolton in a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa in April the same year.
He played twice more in the Championship and then took on the captain’s role the following season, leading the club’s youngest-ever league line-up in a 0-0 draw against eventual champions Coventry City.
Soon after the arrival of Keith Hill as manager Brockbank suffered a thigh tear and he was only able to play once more that season, as a late substitute in the 5-1 defeat at Lincoln.
Brockbank featured more frequently under Ian Evatt in League Two, making 19 appearances, which earned him a two-year deal last summer.
He began this season out of the reckoning but after a few appearances in the Carabao Cup and Papa John’s Trophy, filled-in for the injured Gethin Jones at right-back.
The defender suffered for form, however, and after damaging his Achilles, found himself on the side-lines once more, returning for what proved his final appearance on New Year’s Day at Rotherham United.
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