The FA Coach Mentoring Programme for the 2018-19 season is well underway in West Riding!

With 16 FA Coach Mentors working with clubs, leagues, targeted projects and individual coaches to support their development and help those working at the heart of the grassroots game.

Coaches at Manningham Allstars in Bradford have benefited from the scheme with FA Coach Mentor, Sean Regan working with the club recently to develop the club’s young and talented volunteers. A number of coaches from the club successfully completed their Level 1 Coaching Football course over the Summer and this has allowed the club to attract more young people to their fun weekly coaching sessions at Manningham Sports Centre. Young players were also rewarded recently when Eccleshill United Manager, Sean arranged for them to watch a game as guests of the club in their FA Vase game against Hebburn Town recently.

Club Chairman, Jerry Hussain, said “It’s great that these young kids can come and visit such a great setup which is so close to where they live. Sean really laid the VIP treatment out for the kids and they responded by cheering on the team throughout the game. Eccleshill are a really diverse club and the players, staff, club members all act as great role models for these young boys and girls”.

West Riding FA is piloting a BAME Club Development Programme this season which sees clubs working in diverse communities given direct support towards Coach, Referee and Club development. Asad Qureshi, Football Development Officer (Inclusion) said “We have identified various clubs across the County who engage with extremely diverse pools of players and coaches and after consulting them, we found that alongside support to their coaches, they would also benefit from direct support to engage and upskill Referees and Club Volunteers. We will use the wide range of skills within the County FA Development and FA Coach Mentor teams to help them in these areas and hope that this will support their growth and make them more sustainable.

West Riding County FA holds multiple Mentoring Adults courses aimed at individuals who are interested in developing as Mentors and supporting others with their development. If you are interested in attending one of these courses or would like to know more about Mentoring in West Riding please contact Asad Qureshi at 0113 282 1222 (option 3) or Asad.Qureshi@westridingfa.com.