News

A Seashell Trust football coach has won a top award from the FA for his work in the community.

Adam Brown was named the Grass Roots Coach of the Year for Cheshire.

More than 30 people were nominated for the award that recognises those who make a difference to football in their local area – the people who dedicate their time to developing young talent and help ensure safety and best practice.

Adam, 46, from Mountfield Road, Bramhall, has been coaching for 11 years. Since 2011 he has been a coach at the Seashell Trust's Children's Able and Disabled Sports (CADS).

Adam, an engineer at NXP in Hazel Grove, said: “I started coaching my son’s team at Queensgate FC when they were under fives. This year they are U16s.

“Queensgate FC wanted to increase its involvement in football outside boys football as part of being a FA Chartered Standard Community Club. I started going along to help at CADS on Friday nights and got hooked.

“I was extremely nervous about what I was letting myself in for. Now it is the highlight of my week. As the young people arrive, the stresses of the week melt away. It is so rewarding to see the children get the opportunity to play football in an environment where they can fully participate, regardless of the disabilities life has dealt them.”

Adam has observed coaching at CADS is very different from a mainstream club.

He said: “There is far more joy, the children are elated to be playing football. They are more understanding of each other’s capabilities – participating really does mean more than winning. They all work hard to include everyone and make far greater improvements, both technically and socially.”

“There is great community feeling: community between the children as they meet up each week with their football friends, community between the parents as they chat and support each other. One family comes from Whaley Bridge every week because there is nothing like this out that way.

“If I had time to coach only one team, it would be CADS.”

Adam has taken courses in coaching coaching both able and disabled players but has found on-the-pitch experience has been the best way to learn.

He added: “I have learned most of what I know about coaching kids with disabilities by observing all Brian Wilkinson does. He has run CADs football for years. Without him, it would not function. He is a brilliant coach.

“At the under-11 session we get around 12 players, for u12-u16s we regularly get 25. At both sessions it is the typical CADS mix of kids with disabilities, and able-bodied siblings or friends. The disabilities are varied, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, and deafness."

Gemma Lynch, senior CADS development officer, said: “Adam has been an inspirational coach and role model, his commitment and enthusiasm is fantastic and you can see that he fully enjoys working with the young people and that they get a lot out of the sessions.”

Adam's other team, Queensgate FC from Bramhall, won the FA Youth Trust Respect Award for the best disciplinary record in the county at the same ceremony.

To find out more about CADS football, contact Gemma Lynch on 0161 610 0104/0122 or email sports@seashelltrust.org.uk. Under 11s play from 6-7pm, under 12-16 from 7-8pm on Fridays at St James's Catholic High School in Cheadle Hulme.