Young footballing coach Reegan Mapstone has explained the ‘privilege’ to work with professional and ex-professional footballers despite being in the early stages of his coaching career.
The 19-year-old has coached with two players who have over 700 professional appearances between them.
He has claimed the opportunities come down to the reputation of the coaching company he represents.
He said: “The opportunity to work with ex professionals came from the company I’m working for who have a very good reputation of improving children in football.
“That’s why the attraction is there for these high profile individuals and it’s a privilege to work with them.
“It’s a novelty to be able to walk in and work with these players who know football inside out and know how it works.
“They are nice people as well which helps the work environment.”
Following a spell at Chippenham Town in the youth system, the former defender took part in a coaching course alongside playing which first introduced him to the career option.
He’s been coaching talented younger footballers for over a year and opened up on how he made the next step.
He explained: “In Chips [Chippenham] academy we did a sports coaching course whilst also playing.
“I left the club at the end of 2023 and was left with very few ideas on what to do next, so I saw a coaching job going and applied.
“I started doing good hours coaching and ever since I got into it I’ve been doing more and more hours and making good progress into coaching.
“My aim at the end of the day is to give these children a platform to develop into the best footballers they can be.”
With the potential aspiration to get into the work of being teaching sports in education, Mapstone explained what a day in the life looks like.
“Depending on days, if I’m in the morning I do this thing called Lunchtime Club; I go to schools and at lunch times, I teach different sports – not just football,” he said.
“I teach sports such as rugby, hockey, tennis, netball, basketball, different things like that.
“I also do an after school club which is usually football, but the evenings is where the technical stuff begins.
“I do my technical evening sessions with the players where it’s a lot more intense, a lot more technical where you can really show the inside of how you operate as a coach.”
Despite being in a steady role where he can showcase his talent, it does come with challenges.
It comes with a lot of responsibility and accountability, but it’s a platform that can help individuals thrive.
“You’re in charge of a session with a number of kids which comes with multiple responsibilities.
“You need to organise it well and make sure in a session with a number of children so you need to make sure they’ll improve from it and are also having fun whilst working hard.
“When coaching, you learn certain techniques, so these different and new skills help you take control and improve how you can take things to the next level.”
