Black History Month: Gary Chapman
Black History Month takes place every October, providing everyone with the opportunity to share, celebrate and understand the impact of black heritage and culture.
This year, we're highlighting some of the best grassroots football stories among players, coaches and referees within West Riding football...
Name: Gary Chapman
Currently Club: Manchester United – Academy Football Scout
Previous Clubs Played for: Lincoln City, Bradford City, Notts County, Mansfield (on loan), Exeter City, Torquay United and Darlington Fc
Previous Clubs worked for: Leeds United Academy Coach and Scout, Blackburn Rovers, Academy Coach, Vålerenga IF, Top player developer, Reserve team coach and Head of Academy Recruitment. Sunderland AFC – 1st team Regional Professional Football Scout/Match Assessor
Tell us about how and why you got involved in coaching football?
I felt I had more to offer the game of football from a development point of view. It wasn’t all about teams/winning. In my opinion it was more about developing the individual rather than teams.
What do you enjoy about coaching football?
Seeing players improving/developing through positive influences. I.e. seeing them enjoying the game, developing the individual and helping them to become the best version of themselves.
What is your best memory of coaching?
Not so much a memory of coaching teams but more the memory of seeing a player at a young age develop and seeing how much I may have influenced them in their footballing journey regardless of the level they actually reach.
What do you want to achieve in coaching football?
Longevity – it is not easy to stay in the game at a professional level of coaching or scouting. I must be doing something right. I’m a level 4 coach and I’m still a student of the game. I will continue my CPD through the LMA/LCA and hopefully continue to identify talented young players for MUFC.
What are the biggest obstacles you have faced in coaching football?
Getting up the coaching ladder has always being difficult in the UK and I took a different route in order to fulfil my coaching dream. A club in Norway (Olso) called Vålerenga is where I landed where I was a Top Player Developer, a reserve team coach and a Head of recruitment in the space of 3 ½ years before returning to the Uk as a 1st team scout at Blackburn Rovers.
Who’s had the biggest influence in your coaching career and why?
Ces Podds – for helping me find my way back into the professional game (Bradford City) and helping me believe I can be a coach!
Lenny Lawrence was my 1st professional coach at Lincoln City - he taught how to kick a ball properly as well influencing the way I coach and develop players.
Daryl Pugh – Sheffield Wednesday FC - for giving me my 1st academy coach job at Leeds United.
Lee Congerton – Sporting Director at Atlanta – for encouraging me to go on his study visits to Juventus, Barcelona and Real Madrid where I learnt so much about football in Europe.
Andrea Loberto – for giving me my 1st full time professional coaching job at Vålerenga IF in Norway - Oslo.
Arthur Graham – for being an excellent mentor and for guiding me into the coach/scout I am today.
Almir Velic for his excellent football conversations.
What advice would you give to people wishing to get involved in coaching football?
Become a student of the game, learn how children learn and develop (and in different sports) before moving onto to the adult game. Keep your dream alive whether that is to become a footballer or coach at the highest level that you can achieve - find your level and build on it…