Our

Story

James

&

William

William (Tandem Partner): I’m William, I am from Albert Foundry football club, where I coach our inclusion teams. I’ve been coaching for a couple of years, got involved trough finding teams that could support James’ disability, then Albert Foundry met with myself and another coach to help set up the Inclusion section in December 2023 and in January 2024 Albert Foundry Foxes Inclusion Section was formed along with myself and two other coaches.

James (Young Coach): I’m James, and I’m also from Albert Foundry Football Club. Previously, I played for Linfield D.F.C. for four years, before joining Foundry’s senior team.

William: We started the inclusion team at Albert Foundry with eight players in January and are now at three senior and two junior teams, which is incredible in just 8 months. We decided to take part in the Tandem Young Coach Education because we want James to get involved in coaching our junior section and thought the course was going to be a great asset for him to help him develop new skills both on and off the pitch.

James: I’ve previously coached a little bit, did some demonstrations of exercises. I wanted to do the Tandem Young Coach Education to try and get a coaching badge. I really liked all the football sessions and learning how to teach the juniors as a coach to develop their game, I like to show them what drills to do and why and have fun.

William: The course has really been a great opportunity. It’s been such a pleasure to see James’s progress over these four days, not only developing new skills on the pitch, but also sociably off it. You watch his sessions, you watch his confidence, his communication, every day he’s grown.

James: Yeah, before the course I was a bit scared, I didn’t know what was going to happen. But then I did like the course, I thought I did really well, and I enjoyed meeting new people and learning new skills.

William: Generally, watching all the Young Coaches develop in their journey and having such a close-knit group, I thought it was just fantastic. The course is also set up to all levels of people with disabilities and different disabilities, so it caters to all. It’s a very worthwhile course, very friendly and fun. It is intense learning, but it has to be for four days. So, if anybody wants to do this, I would recommend. Even if they’re already into disability football for several years, this would be a course I’d recommend to aid their development.