No fewer than 14 Royal Navy personnel have just completed training aimed at teaching them to coach in communities while their ships are in foreign ports.

The four-day course at HMS Temeraire, the Navy’s sports and physical training establishment in Portsmouth, was the first of its kind and will now be held twice a year.

Steve Johnson, the Navy’s civilian Football Development Officer was delighted with the response. “The first course went extremely well and the students are keen to put their newly acquired skills to the test abroad. They will be coaching all age groups and varying abilities, which will help strengthen ties between ships and the many communities they visit while abroad,” he said.

“We have been working hard with The FA to get the course up and running. It’s an excellent way of getting football into communities which would otherwise have little or no access to football coaching.”

It was a landmark for Steve himself, who used the Child protection and best practice workshop to complete assessment and become accredited as the Royal Navy’s first Child Protection Tutor.

“As a County affiliated to The Football Association, the Royal Navy places high priority on child protection and the issues surrounding it,” he says.

“Many Royal Navy coaches operate within their local communities assisting at civilian clubs who are affiliated to other CFAs. It is beholding on the RNFA to ensure that all coaches are trained to offer the best quality CP service, thus enabling children to enjoy their football in a safe and enjoyable environment.”

“Not only have I become our first Child Protection Tutor, but we have demonstrated our commitment to child protection by also appointing a CFA CPO. This will enable us to deliver courses to Royal Navy personnel throughout the UK as well as abroad if there is a requirement.”

John Robinson, who co-tutored the workshop with Steve, acknowledged the potential for passing on the newly-acquired knowledge. “When the candidates return to sea, they will be able to organise football for children when they are ashore in foreign lands, therefore furthering The FA’s work abroad,” he pointed out.

“Steve is clearly a very experienced football coach with a sound background. He was able to draw upon his great experience of coaching at various levels in the game to illustrate points and issues of good practice. He also had the ability to engage with his group and bring the best out of the participants through his delivery.”