Steph O'Brien

Steph O'Brien - September DCFA Female Coach of the Month

Derbyshire FA
This is the first in a new series of articles on female coaches in Derbyshire and how they got into football and coaching.

The first coach is Steph O’Brien from Chesterfield Ladies F.C

1. How did you get into football?

a. I started playing football when I was about 5-year-old. I would just play in the garden with my dad or at school with the boys. I definitely think my dad was the main reason I started playing as he played and loves football. I joined Morpeth Town Juniors boys team when I was 9-year-old. The league I played in for Morpeth Town Juniors, was a Cramlington league and I was the only girl to play in the league at that time.  Then from that moved onto play for a local girls team and then onto Sunderland AFC Ladies where I made my first team debut at the age of 15. 

2. When did you start coaching?

a. I did a little bit of coaching while I was at college coaching a local girls team where I lived in Northumberland but playing for Sunderland AFC Ladies took up most of time when I was younger so never really stuck at it (which I wish I really had done). I started coaching again only in June 2016, when I started coaching at Chesterfield Ladies FC and I started to manage the what was then the under 12s team. We had a very good season last season, gaining promotion to the top division at our age group. 

3. What coaching courses have you completed?

a. I have completed my FA Level 1 and 2 qualifications, completed FA Youth Modules and currently I am completing the FA level 3 (UEFA B) course with Derbyshire FA.

4. Have your coaching qualifications helped outside of football?

a. The coaching qualifications have helped outside of football, especially the youth modules. They have helped me understand the development of children and how you may need to adapt to each individual child.

5. What are your coaching aspirations?

a. I would like to continue my coaching journey through the qualifications to UEFA A and further if I can. I would also like to have the opportunity to coach at higher tiers in the women’s leagues. 

6. The best thing about coaching is………….

a. The best thing for me is seeing the progress and development of children I coach because then I know that what I’m doing is having an impact on them, and that may not be just from a football aspect but also as a person.

7. Who are your role models within football?

a. I would say my role models are just generally football coaches or managers that give me a different insight into coaching and football. 

8. Any advice for a female wanting to get into coaching?

a. Go for it! There are now so many more opportunities out there for females. And anyone is willing to help and give support throughout your coaching journey.

 

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