I am a UEFA B licensed coach along with an advanced youth award (Equivalent of the A license designed to work with Youth players). I have worked within Elite youth football within England for 9 years, gaining a first honours degree in Sports Coaching along with working at the highest of levels within Elite Youth Football within the U.K.
I have been fortunate enough to work for the Premiership Side Swansea City, where I not only coached the academy sides but also helped develop an expansive talent Identification pathway for the club. I then furthered my career by taking a lead coach role at Coventry City Football Club (Category 2 in the Elite Player Performance Plan) which gave me substantial responsibility within the academy. We have been very proud to be in the top 10 in the Country for producing youth talent which progresses into professional football (recent league champions of the under 18 league).
I feel my previous roles and responsibilities within Elite Football have given me the ability to not only develop players holistically and individually but to also identify and support talent pathways for young football players. I have a thorough understanding of four corner approach to development (Physical, Technical/Tactical, Social and Psychological) along with an academic understanding of relative age effect and bio banding (which I feel is very important in talent identification).
I feel I have fantastic communication skills, I am used to leading a large group of people ranging from players across multiple age groups, parents, coaches and scouts also. I believe in a collaborative multi-disciplinary approach and hopefully my growth mind-set can help develop the programme and embrace any potential challenges. I have a full UK driving license along with a CRB/DBS check (working with children). I have an industrial work ethic and working unique hours is something which I feel I have become accustomed to in the last 9 years working within the sport.