Why Do I Bother Coaching Football Teams?

It’s a question I often get asked: Why Do I Bother Coaching Football Teams? Answering it can often come down to a “well who else would do it?” but that’s not always the reason.

I write this after reading this “Letter from a Volunteer Coach” posted on the St John Bosco FC Facebook page.

It got me thinking. Why?

Why bother sending out hundreds of texts about training every week? Arriving early to get the gear ready? Arriving early to get the training session set up? Texts about matches every weekend? Making sure the gear is ready for the match at the weekend? Packing away the gear afterwards? Finishing work early to get to matches or training? Spending your own money on gear to try take the burden off your voluntarily run club? (I don’t list these as a ‘show-off”, more an example of a normal week.)

It made me think of just last Saturday. Sweeping out dressing rooms…cutting pitches…marking pitches…coaching at a match. Six hours spent in the soccer club. Do I do it to get a thank you at the end of it?

Sunday morning arrives and back to the soccer club 90 minutes before kick off – and 45 minutes before the players arrive – to make sure the dressing rooms are clean for the teams, making sure the kit is ready, preparing a warm up before everybody arrives and making sure the pitch and goals are ready for the match. Do I do it to get a thank you at the end of it?

Match one ends at 1pm and it’s a 20-minute drive to coach another team at another match at 2pm. The same thing…jerseys, cones, footballs, bibs, warm-up, bottles, first aid, 90 minutes of a match and the day is over…seven hours after arriving for the first match of the day. Do I do it to get a thank you at the end of it?

Whether it’s attending committee meetings for the voluntary committee that you and others sit on? Who give hours and hours to keep a football club going… Do we want thanks? Do we want a handshake at the end of the season? A small token gift to show appreciation?

I’ve been coaching football for as long as I can remember. I still remember, and wont ever forget, the first match I ever helped coach at. It wont be forgotten nor will the coach, Peter, who got me interested in the first place. A true football man who has taught me so much.

Fast-forward ten years and do I do it for the thanks? Or the appreciation? Or even the glory of managing a winning team?

Of course everybody wants a thank you. A handshake. Or a simple ‘fair play’.

You might not always hear a thank you toward a coach, but I do. A parent sending a text after a match. Or a player thanking you after a game. A former player keeping in touch and never forgetting where they’ve been or where they started. Or another coach complimenting your team. It’s there. We don’t always hear it with so much going on…as is the busy nature of football clubs.

But that’s not why I do it. Every coach and club volunteer has their reasons…I do it because I love football. I love the club I coach at. Working with the people I coach with. Seeing your teams enjoying their training and matches. Doing my bit to keep the place ticking over. I love that a community run club provides so many people with the opportunity to play football. What’s not to like about that?

But there’s no harm in sending your coach, or your kids’ coach a “thank you” every now and again. It can go a long way to that coach who’s maybe wondering that same question I’m always asked…

America to the League of Ireland – Waterford United keeper Chip Sanders’ journey

At the age of 23, Chip Sanders decided a change was needed; a change of country, a change of continent and change of luck. The American packed his bags and moved to start his new life in the most unlikeliest of places; Waterford.

Credit: Waterford United

The goalkeeper decided on a move to the south east of Ireland and to move to a part of the world he’d never dreamed of being in, never mind starting a football career in. Yet it’s now a reality for the goalkeeper, as he embarks on his first season in the League of Ireland with The Blues.

Sanders describes the sequence of his move as ‘interesting’, with a former Blues coach giving a helping hand after some unsuccessful trial with others American sides.

“I went to USL Combine trials in January but nothing panned out with that, and then I trained with Columbus Crew for a couple of days but that didn’t work out either,” he explains.

“Then my goalkeeping coach Scott Schweitzer, who knows Giles Cheevers very well, said ‘why don’t you go over and have a look at Waterford and see if that might be a good fit for you’ and it kind of all worked out from there. It was kind of a roundabout way of getting here.”

Sanders’ move is certainly on the stranger side of the League of Ireland given that it is a predominantly home-based league. The keeper admitted that he knew little about Waterford, Ireland or the league he was getting involved in.

“I didn’t really know anything about it, but my high school coach was from Ireland, and he’d always say that I ought to take a look at Ireland. I never really thought about it until the opportunity presented itself and now I’m kind of just going with it and it’s worked out pretty well so far.”

“Giles Cheevers contacted the management in Waterford and said ‘I’ve got a goalkeeper who wants to get a chance over here and take a look’. So I got an opportunity to come over on trial in February. I was here for about two and a half weeks, I got a couple of pre season matches in and thankfully everyone, and the manager, liked me and it kind of went from there.

“I signed, went home to collect my visa and came straight back as soon as I could.”

The early stage of the former North Carolina Davidson College’s keeper’s time in Ireland was a tough one, he admits, in new life in a strange country with no friends or family.

“It was a bit daunting at the start, and a bit frustrating. I’d come over here and with the talent that we have for us not to get good early result was a bit disheartening and more difficult for me.

“My family are still in the States, and it’s a bit different being here away from family and friends but I’m making new friends over here.”

For all footballers coming into a new club and a new country it will take time to settle and get used to their surroundings. For Sanders, the Waterford United fans have taken to him straight away, with the Thomasville, Georgia-born keeper seeing his twitter page constantly on the go with fans looking to chat. It amuses Sanders, but he admits he’s honoured that they’ve taken an interest in him.

“It’s funny because stuff like that doesn’t happen at home, we don’t really have supporters as passionate but it’s really cool to be able to interact with supporters.

“I’m glad they like me,” Sanders jokes, thoroughly enjoying his new found fame, even if he still remains a little surprised by it.

“It’d be bad if they didn’t like me.

“It’s nice, it really nice to feel like you’re in a place where you’re wanted. I’m somewhere that I think people want me to be here and want me to do well and that’s always a good thing to be hearing.”

Sanders feels like he belongs in Waterford already and constantly refers to his happiness in his new surroundings and his new life. A contract that runs until the end of the season in November, he already feels an affinity, a startling loyalty, to the club despite his short time in the country.

“This is an historic club from everything I’ve read. We belong in the top flight and if me playing helps us to do that, then great, and I would absolutely love that but if I’m not playing, as long as we’re winning then that’s really all that matters.

“I kind of did a little bit of research, nothing too serious, but seeing that we’ve had six League of Ireland titles is huge, you know that’s big time and for us not to be in the Premier Division where we belong is tough.”

Sanders is now living with one of the other players in Waterford city and is getting used to life away from home. A poor start to their season means that they now play catch up with the teams above, but the 6ft 6in keeper has quickly got to know his new teammates as they look to turn a poor season around.

“Everybody’s been real welcoming and real helpful since I’ve got here. It’s different from home, like the culture, the passion, there’s a lot more over here, but I’m really, really enjoying it so far.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my time in Waterford so far. It’s been quite difficult in getting settled and trying to adjust to a new place but I’m definitely enjoying it and enjoying my football for sure. It was tough at first but I’m finding our feet. We’re going to push on and I feel it’s going to be a good season.”

[Waterford United match programme May 3rd 2013]

Southeast derby from the Ferrycarrig touchline

Being close to the action is an important part of being a football fan, and Ferrycarrig Park is one League of Ireland ground that allows you to get close to the action.

It’s a different view compared to the usual and gives you a different take on the game, the players and the managers.

It becomes fascinating. Every incident bringing an instant reaction from the managers, always differing from each other, but both with the same force needed to get your team on the right track.

For all the work done to build up grounds to make better stadia for fans to come to games, being close to the action is a nice change. You can hear every word that’s shouted from the touchline, the instructions from the manager and the interaction between officials.

Being close to the action in a derby game makes for a better spectacle and shows the game from a different perspective; this wasn’t just a derby, southeast bragging rights were on offer. From the off Waterford United are up for the game, and with little instruction from the bench needed, the away side control the opening exchanges and Paul Quilty and Vinny Sullivan make the most of a CJ Browne mistake to allow Sullivan in for a deserved opener. The sizeable away crowd have a dream start. Paul O’Brien is smiling.

Youths boss Shane Keegan calls for a regroup and his team do just that as Shaun Corcoran fires past Blues’ keeper Craig Hyland for the leveller just ten minutes later. The Youths bench erupt as the ball smashes the back of the net.

Keegan’s constant encouraging shouts make a change to the stereotypical shouts to try to do better. A name shouted with encouraging instruction. “Well done Crokey, brilliant, keep that going” is the message, and his players follow suit.

Fourth official Andrew Mullally begins to question the photographers. “Any of you get a picture of that tackle?” he asks. “No, why’s that?” “I thought it was a red card myself,” Mullally replies, looking displeased with the solitary yellow card handed to Vinny Sullivan from debuting referee Tommy Mazur.

The second half is all Youths and their togetherness is clear to see. Always talking to each other, getting each other to know what the next play was. The away side are quiet, apart from the odd shout from boss Paul O’Brien. The players look unsure.

Shane Nolan is the main influence. The midfielder is taking nothing less than a win and his endeavours keep his side on the attack and always in the ear of referee Mazur and fourth official Mullally, smartly looking for any advantage on offer for his side.

“You’ve a nice little arse, don’t ya?” is the joke among the Youths subs as they go to warm up, as Peter White fires an encouraging, settling shout toward young full back Jamie Cross after a nervy start.

As referee Mazur and his officials struggle to keep control of a feisty game, the inevitable red card arrives. Seamus Long’s attempt to block Aidan Keenan is ignored by referee Mazur but for the intervention of assistant Adam Tszampel who flags for a penalty. Mazur blows his whistle, pauses, before pointing to the penalty spot. The Youths bench jumps to their feet; a resigned Paul O’Brien turns to his dugout but stays silent. No complaint.

Seamus Long is red carded in a period that seems to take an eternity before Dean Broaders can dispatch his spot kick. Shane Keegan can’t watch. He turns his back to the pitch. He must rely on the reactions of the crowd. His subs and backroom team are celebrating on the pitch before the manager turns to be sure.

A deserved lead for an industrious Youths’ performance. “Five minutes added time, Andrew,” Referee Mazur shouts to the touchline, “four minutes, Tommy, is it?”. “Five minutes” is the reply, but Mullally ignores and decides on four minutes stoppage time.

The away fans’ are dejected and their anger is evident toward referee Mazur after a nervy start as the leading official. The Youths fans are thrilled. A performance with heart, determination and three points.

Dejected Waterford United players depart the field; a single clap toward the fans is all that’s mustered up after a disjointed performance. The Youths are happy, another early season derby win.

First Division in review: Limerick end a long wait

By Brendan White and Andrew Cunneen.
[As published: Extratime.ie on 13 November 2012]

The season Limerick dreamed about for almost two decades finally arrived in 2012 as the Shannonsiders topped the First Division and in turn, secured promotion to the top flight. Despite losing to second-placed Waterford United on all four meetings, Pat Scully’s team  finished four points ahead of their Munster rivals.

Wexford Youths Season Preview

Optimism has grown in Ferrycarrig Park with the arrival of Shane Keegan as manager. Keegan has set about the task of bringing success to a club that won just four league games last season as they amassed just 14 points throughout the season. Keegan has already identified home form as being important after a season of just one home win in 2011.

Wexford Youths squad. Credit: Sean Dempsey.

Keegan’s pre-season training included 28 players but that has been whittled down to a more manageable size. His plans for the club are to progress every year and get the club to the top level of Irish football in a few years. With just eight teams in this season’s First Division, the club can make a lot of progress this season.

The League of Ireland First Division. Who cares?

Waterford United are once again in the First Divison.

Sensationalist headlines streamed across newspaper back pages, radio phone-in shows were overwhelmed with callers and television news programmes giving it full coverage as the League of Ireland First Division was revealed.

Eight teams have been announced to participate, not the 12 teams that people may have anticipated. The news was met by anger from First Division supporters.

Yes, perhaps this was all just a dream. But was I the only one who seemed to notice that the news passed without any real kind of discussion and press coverage? The second tier of Irish football had suddenly dropped from 11 teams to a mere eight. Two other teams have applied for licences but, even if they receive a licence, are very unlikely to be allowed take part when the season starts on March 2nd.

U19 league vital to Irish success

Paul Doolin’s Republic of Ireland side grabbed second place in their group to set up a semi-final spot against tournament favourites Spain in the European Championship. What followed was disappointment for the Irish side, but the manner of the defeat was something that won’t be forgotten.

Reigning senior World and European champions Spain are known for their style of football, but their Under-19 side have certainly shown that the future is very bright. The youngsters dismantled a very talented Irish side on their way to U19 glory, beating Czech Republic 3-2 after extratime in the final.

Under-19 star Sean Maguire could be next for a move abroad.

The level of performance from the Spanish was a scary sight, and begs the question, how good can these kids get? These players will no doubt improve in the coming years and will aim to emulate the success of the current senior Spanish side.

With the new Under-19 league all set to begin; now more than ever this age group is becoming more and more important. The yearly loss of top players in the league who feel the need to move abroad to make a living and have any chance if making an international career is something that will never benefit the league. But that’s something that is accepted without any place for objection.

The ease at which the Spanish played the ball around is something that all sides will now look to emulate, or try to find a way to play against. The keep-ball tactic made famous by Barcelona is now a trademark of football in Spanish football but do we have the players to be able to compete with it?

The game has evolved throughout the years as a new breed of stars play a new brand of football. The idea of all-out-attack is somewhat challenged by the ease at which the ball is kept, passed around the pitch holding possession before the final ball is played for the scoring change to be had. The Spanish players had a game plan that the Irish players just couldn’t counter.

Bray Wanderers striker Conor Murphy was the sole member of Paul Doolin’s U19 squad that travelled to Romania from the Airtricity League. The new under-19 league now has the chance to showcase the talented young players at the disposal of League of Ireland teams. Perform well and these players could soon be moved to their respective first team squads. The rest of the squad is made up of players from outside the country, a stat that will hopefully change in the future.

Recent Under-19 and Under-21 managers have chosen to ignore players plying their trade in the League of Ireland. The sad fact is that players now realise that International recognition is more than likely not going to happen while they play in Ireland. International bosses over the years have been on the end of some stick but Paul Doolin, a former manager in the league, and U21 manager Noel King have kept an eye on the league for players, and Conor Murphy has been given the chance.

The end result may see our young stars leave junior league clubs in Ireland to join cross-channel teams without ever gracing the Airtricity League. The new Under-19 league now affords  League of Ireland clubs to bring these players in to the clubs and then progress to the first team, an important step on the road to a successful career.

[Waterford United match programme – August 5th 2011]