31/10/2017
My own Q&A with PFC, has been a fantastic first year on board, looking forward to much more activity, development and enjoyment to come. ⚽️📃🎙
SPOTLIGHT: JAMES PERRY, PFC COACH
Each month, we shine the spotlight on one of our professional coaches - who they are, what they do - so our players and parents can get to know our brilliant staff better.
Here's a snapshot of October's coach JAMES PERRY in 20 questions:
1. Where are you from?
Bristol
2. How long have you worked at PFC?
Just over a year now, so now into my second.
3. What's your role at PFC?
In the main a football coach, across a variety of age groups and activities, from coaching age specific teams through some of PFC's associated grassroots clubs, One2One individual development programmes, through to football and multi-sport based Lunchtime and After School club sessions. Our core group of players will recognise me through the holiday courses too, as I am also involved in the planning and delivery of various projects, along with other marketing activity we do in the background likewise.
4. What's the best thing about working at PFC?
The aspect I most enjoy, is that the PFC 'community', really does make the whole organisation feel like a football club itself, engaging every day with so many different young people, and how it inspires myself to better myself every day to make them feel inspired theirselves. Ultimately, the activity we do provides a fantastic opportunity as a coach and person to develop and excel in an environment which is so rewarding.
5. Why did you want to become a football coach?
Making a positive influence to young player's development and outlook towards the game I love, and getting 'out there' and making that difference, rather than growing increasingly frustrated by the England national team's consistent underachievement. Having a desire to learn myself, and belief in what I am doing to making myself the best person I can be, the best coach I can be, and hopefully that can go towards benefitting the players I work with myself to achieving the same dreams I had when I was a young player myself.
6. What are your aspirations at PFC and as a professional coach?
I am highly ambitious to progressing myself to the highest level possible in the game, but ultimately it is about enjoying what I do, and as long as I am able to keep challenging myself to make what I do, to a better level, then I can go as far as I am willing to go. As the saying goes, happiness is a journey and not a destination, I have short, medium and long term objectives, both personally and professionally, so we will see where it takes me.
7. What team did you support growing up?
My hometown club, Bristol City will always be the club I support. Growing up, I tended to follow the teams of my favourite players, ie Arsenal because of Wright, Bergkamp & Henry.
However my home club & country, in my opinion should always be the teams you support, so Bristol City & England all the way.
8. What is your favourite position to play on the pitch?
I have played everywhere, but midfield is definitely my preference, it suits my game too as a creative player but also with a disciplined, tactical mindset.
9. What are the best qualities of a young player?
Intelligence (emotional as well as game understanding), a pro-active mindset and willingness, those three psychological components can make whatever level of talent they have, to go as far as the player wants it to.
10. Who would you say is your main role model?
As with most kids at a young age, it was my father, though unfortunately he passed away when I was a teenager, but all the encouragement he had given me to believe in myself and what I do still carries over almost two decades on. Growing up, similarly I have always highly admired Arsene Wenger for his principles and values to himself and the game, whatever people think of him these days, he has refined the standards in this country, and the way he has achieved it deserves huge level of respect.
11. Why do you think England have failed to win a major competition since 1966?
A variety of reasons, but remarkably all things which can be corrected. The sucess this year across the England junior ages, show that the talent is there and the FA DNA as a process is coming to fruition. However, these players need opportunities at the elite level, Premier League & European competition, some clubs are more willing to provide chances than others.
Also, the grassroots coaching and academy recruitment /retention structure needs fine-tuning, there is a lot of constant chop & change in the industry, which leads everyone around in circles, and ultimately and very much sadly it is the young players who lose out. There is so much things done well as recently shown, but if we can get the negative things reversed, this country can achieve some great things.
12. As a professional coach, what do you look for in players who are looking to be scouted?
First and foremost, an enjoyment for the game, and a desire to listen and learn, try new things and relish being challenged. Also a strong willingness to use both feet, a composure to what they do and positive attitude towards their team mates.
13. What is coachability?
An understanding of why us coaches are looking to always set challenges, and encourage a self-learning approach to solving problems through different means. Also a desire to listen and take on board suggestions and advice, always goes a long way!
14. What are your interests away from football?
Cars, am a huge F1 fan but have always been into cars & motorsport generally, watching TV sitcoms & comedies, music, Playstation (am rather time starved when it comes to that though these days).
15. What is your top football moment /memory?
Being a Bristol City fan, not many to choose from Ha, but definitely the Championship play-off semi final win over Crystal Palace about ten years ago, the atmosphere was just unreal.
Also, England 1-0 win against Argentina in 2002 World Cup, (showing my age now) but was just a huge deal at the time, Beckham getting his own back on Diego Simeone, poetic justice & all.
16. What was your lowest point as a player, and how did you react?
Being told I wasn't good enough at 11 years old at the club I was playing for at the time, to the point I gave up playing for a year, however I came back, started enjoying playing again, keen to play in all different positions for a few years and become a much better player in the long run than many who were so-called better than me a few years beforehand.
17. If you could meet anyone, who would it be? Probably Thierry Henry, my idol growing up, loved the spirit he played in as well as his talent, and the guy seems to talk so much sense, I could imagine having a cracking conversation with him if I ever get the chance.
18. All time top player in the game?
I really think we should embrace the fact that we have two of the greatest of all time, let alone this era, around and still at their peaks in Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi, but for me Messi is just one of a kind, and has that little extra sparkle to his star overall.
19. How long does it take you to assemble a 12ft x 6ft Samba portable goal?
I started doing one about six months ago, I don't think I actually finished it! Ha
20. What are your plans for the future?
To continue enjoying my coaching activity and relationships I am building with my players and colleagues, my development as a coach which I am hoping to progress towards the Uefa B Licence over the next couple of years, I have now lived in a few different cities & always thrived on big challenges so long term we shall see.
Thank you to James for taking the time to complete our questionnaire, we have more Coach Profiles to come very soon.
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