Getting to the "Next Level" again !!!

Not only did I have no idea what I was letting myself in for, I couldn't have imagined then, that 105 months later (yep, that's 8 years 9 months or, just over half of Alex's life so far), I would be awarded the FA Level 3 (UEFA "B") in Coaching Football.

Well, that happened yesterday !!!

There are a lot of people to thank, for encouraging me, supporting me and at times keeping me going when my default leadership & management stances were ineffective.

I'll start with @Stephen Maker and @Danielle Evans @Hertfordshire FA for enduring all my chasing through the last COVID and FA Education restructuring impacted 12 months for the arranging of my final insitu visit. @Tom Hartley, thanks for stepping in to take me through that and handing me the opportunity to start my next journey to the next, "next level" !!!

My course workshops completed in May 2019 and I was nowhere near complete then. @Daniel Fenner, @Colin Reed, @Ciara Allan and @Zak Wooster ran a great programme and Zak as my Coach Tutor, persevered with me from then until now. I smile to myself everyday thinking about you being a West Ham fan, working at Chelsea, knowing we've got Declan Rice and they ain't getting him back X

 It was a great course group and looking down the list today, There's a thank-you due to each of the other participants generally, but for @Michael Draper in particular, who shared so many coaching basics "effortlessly" and because of whom I am, even now, constantly "checking shoulders"

Within @Tring Tornadoes JSC the support of the Management Committee (especially @Martin Pontoppidan and @Stuart Parker) and all of the Football Section Managers & Coaches as we utilise the UEFA "B" knowledge to evolve #TheTornadoesWay has been invaluable. Working in small parts across other Age Groups to try out different coaching elements has reinforced for me that we are right to look to embed Football Industry best practice into our grass roots community club, giving all of our players and coaches the chance to access the "next level" content & resources as the norm rather than the exception in their individual player development pathways.

In the now U16 Age Group, the coaches - @David Marshall, @David Cave, @Chris Gibbs and @Gavin Morden, who have lived the Session Plans week-to-week, often reading the 1,000 words that sought to explain a picture that already saved a thousand words !!!

The squad, that were press-ganged onto my UEFA "B" journey at the beginning of their U14 season and now, finally, after yesterday’s session, won't have to endure any more "... as part of my UEFA "B" ..." little speeches about a "match situation" and beyond. Their parents too for the weekly emails setting out training intentions and providing post-match reports and analysis that contain all those little coaching insights like "getting thumped 16 - 0 gave us 17 chances to practive our kick-off routines"

I then get to the really special people.

Special thanks to my Alex, for being so relaxed and cool all the time as his Dad was so absorbed in the coaching and learning. His delight and joy every time the coaching whiteboard came out and he became the audience for a little rehearsal of "the gameplan" and the constant feedback and admiration he received so magnanamously from hsi mates about his Dad's coaching and little catchphrases including the now legendary "COME OONNN BAILS !!!" is not lost on me. Thank you Son.

Then there's my Dad (@David Bailey) who having watched Alex and his U13 team win the Wycombe League Dick Hopkins Memorial Cup on 29th April 2018, suffered a life-altering stroke on 3rd May 2018. He embodies that "never give in, never give up, never back down" winning mindset in the way he has battled through all of the consequences of a massive brain haemorrage, complete loss of all left side mobility and the shift from being completely independent of everyone to now being completly dependent on others all the time.

When I didn't get picked by Ruislip Rangers at U8's back in 1975 (just after West Ham had won the FA Cup), my Dad, along with another guy started their own team so their boys could play. Today, I lead a Junior Sports Club with over 700 playing members, across 3 sports, with 45 ish teams from U6-U18 involving circa 125 coach volunteers every weekend, "in my spare time". The proximity of apples falling from trees is duly evidenced !!!

Then there is @Jo Wainwright. Everyone is someones perfect match. She is mine. Since she came into my life in October 2017, every day has been enriched through her support, nurturing, care and love. This award is as much her achievement as it is mine. Thankyou for everything JoJo.

Timing is everything and there's a time and a place. Yesterday was the 7th Anniversary of my Mums passing. So, as with previous years, this is another fitting way to celebrate and remember the woman who I hear every day saying "be confident, do your best, I believe in you"

As we head today into EURO 2020 (COVID delayed), when you watch each game, where will your focus and attention be ? Will you be focused on celebrating the end results? or will you be absorbed in appreciating all the effort, energy and commitment that each nations management, coaching & support staff has put in over manay, many years that all comes together in these 4 short weeks ???

Me, I will be looking out for the things that take us to the next level. 11th July 2021 - England to beat Germany in the Final and Declan Rice to score the winner !!!