I is for Inclusion

One of the most contentious topics for grassroots football coaches is what you do with the less-gifted players. I’ve heard managers defend their practice of always picking their strongest line up by saying that the others have to earn a place, to improve to the point where t...

At a recent get together with some other authors, the conversation turned to the subject of Artificial Intelligence in the creative world. Initially, the collective tone was a superficial and disparaging one, until it became apparent that one of our number actually knew what he was talking about, wi...

H is for Hogan, Jimmy

James Hogan, the main character in Foul and Fair, bears a name steeped in footballing history, albeit one that many modern fans are unaware of. Jimmy Hogan was a professional footballer prior to the First World War, playing for Fulham, Bolton Wanderers and others, but his reput...

G is for Game

It’s so easy for adults involved in kids’ football to forget this, but football is a game. Games are something we play; games are meant to be fun. Yes, you can play to win and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but winning isn’t the be-all and end-all o...

Like most writers, I still have to keep up the day job. For me, the day job is actually a couple of jobs. I go into local primary schools as a football coach, running lunchtime clubs and afterschool clubs for Foundation Sports in Dorset. I also work as club coach for the Man v Fat Football’s B...