I joined the Coventry & District Schools' Football Association while teaching at Barkers' Butts Secondary Modern Boys School in 1957.
In my first year, my U12's team won Coventry's "Bennett Cup" against a good Whitley Abbey team.
The Association decided to run an U13's team for the first time and it was suggested that I become the manager of this team with George Tallack (Foxford) as my Assistant.
The U13's won the Birmingham & District Trophy in my first year in charge.
The excitement of being involved with the Coventry Associaton had just started and has not abated in 50 years!
In my 50 years with the Association, which was renamed around 1960 to allow neighbouring schools to affiliate to the Warwickshire Schools' F.A. I have had a number of posts:
Treasurer, Chief Coach, Vice Chairman, Chairman and now as President.
In the late 1970's I was invited to be Coach to the England Team for a game at Highfield Road against Eire, as Assistant to the well-reputed Manager, Tommy Saunders (Liverpool), who was later to become part of the Management team at Liverpool F.C. during their halcyon years of Trophy Winning. A great honour for me and a memory I will always treasure.
I have always enjoyed the challenges on the touch line and have made many good friends in my time with the CSFA.
I was also honoured to be invited to Chair the West Midlands Schools F.A. for 2 years in the early 1980's.
I have also held the position of Education Officer for the Coventry City Academy for several years.
I have enjoyed every minute of 50 years involvement with Schools Football and it was with great pleasure that I recieved my 50 year Service Award from the English Schools F.A. in 2007.
Darren Bent is one of the Barclays Premier League’s most prolific strikers. Now he’s passing on his top tips to help amateur strikers everywhere score more this month.
Are you fox or chicken? Win a pair of the new Umbro Stealth!
Club Website has teamed up with our friends at Umbro to give away three pairs of their brand new football boot, the Stealth! Are you fox or chicken?