“If no one is going to give you an opportunity, you have to create one yourself.”
Hi, I’m Geo!
I’ve been playing football since the age of 4 and coaching since I was 16. I started out playing for my local club, training with one of my older sister’s team. Once I was then old enough, I joined a boys U6 team at the same club, where I stayed for quite a few years. After a while, I dual signed for a girls team as well, until I had to make a decision as to who I would stay with. After that, I played for a couple other teams in the area until I was 16. Alongside this, I played for development centres at both Peterborough United and Cambridge United. Once I was 16, I joined a ladies team, I had also started college, playing for Cambridge United in their scholarship programme. It was at this scholarship programme that I got my first female coach! Once I started college and joined my new ladies team, I also started coaching. I had spoken to my coach at my grassroots club about starting coaching, and he got me helping out at the mini soccer school. I had been supporting a coach until one week I was given a group of kids to coach myself. It was from this group of players, that I formed my own U7 team. After finding some coaches to help me, we then started the season in January that year. It was a big responsibility but definitely a choice I would never regret.
When I grew up playing football, I hadn’t had any female coaches until halfway through my first year of college. It took 13 years for me to have a female coach. When this new coach came in, the programme completely changed. The environment we played in became more professional and meaningful, making our football more enjoyable and making us more motivated. She understood the game on a different level to my other coaches and knew how and when to push us. As well as this she knew what the programme needed and made it happen. The difference this made to my past coaches was impeccable. I feel my football is in a better place, and I want everyone to have that. This whole project, I’ve created, to give other people what I never had.
During summer 2024, I attended an FA lead course called The FA Leadership Academy. It started with a 4-day residential based around developing leadership skills. At the residential, you had the opportunity to meet and work with like-minded people from all over England. Through this course, we all had to create a project and implement it in our community. I knew immediately what I needed to do, which is why I started this project. It’s a simple fact, we need more female coaches in football! Once I knew what I was doing, my mentor and The FA National Youth Council supported me and all the other participants start their projects.
I hope that this website helps give people the opportunity to have what they deserve, and empower more females to start their coaching journey! As well as this, I hope Shesthecoach is able to also provide support to any females already on their coaching journey. This project isn’t just about me helping people, it’s about helping each other have the best opportunities possible.