Having coached footballers for over two decades and more than half his life, Steve Beaglehole has seen some dramatic changes to his profession - and studying for his Pro Licence has only confirmed just how much scope there is for the modern day coach.
Having started work on his coaching badges in his early 20s, Beaglehole has been involved in coaching from a young age and admits it was always something that fired his passion.
Speaking exclusively to TheFA.com, Beaglehole said: "I've always wanted to be a coach, I got my first full-time job as youth team coach at Doncaster Rovers when I was 24.
"I've been lucky enough to be a coach at different levels for nearly 24 years, I've always wanted to coach and when I look at what other people do I know what a great job I have.
"What you have to do as a coach is stretch yourself and be prepared to put yourself out. The overseas visit was a prime example of that, where we went to see at first-hand the different systems and cultures in place abroad."
Beaglehole believes that coaching has changed hugely since he began all those years ago, and courses like the Pro Licence are crucial to keeping people at the forefront of the new techniques and ideas.
"Coaching has changed massively," Beaglehole explained. "When I look at my first job with the youth team 24 years ago I had eight or nine players, three footballs that the first team had kicked down and equipment was very limited.
"The education side has changed a lot, the lads that don't make it now come out with a decent education that will help them into employment outside football.
"The pitches have improved hugely, particularly at Academy level and there was a massive difference when the Charter for quality came out.
"Fitness, diet, nutrition have seen massive changes. Early on my youth team players would have a steak for their pre-match meal and no one would think anything of it.
"Hydration was never really a concern like it is nowadays. Warm-downs, agility work and core training are all important aspects of a complete training programme.
"The majority of the changes have come in the last ten years. Possibly the foreign influence, in particular Arsene Wenger, must take credit for a lot of the changes."
Beaglehole is proud to take the final step on a long journey towards the Pro Licence, and says it is by no means the end of his learning.
"The graduation was a very proud moment, but I don't want it to stop. I'll be disappointed next year that I don't have the modules to look forward to, and I'll certainly be the first to put my name down for the refresher course.
"It's been career-defining to be here. I was in the company of some very intelligent people, real students of the game. The course has been well structured and it helps us become more professional and better organised."
