Mentees celebrated at St. George's Park

Four young and ambitious coaches have graduated from The FA’s Elite Coach Menteeship Programme at a ceremony held at St. George’s Park.

Kurt Husnu, Carly Davies, Stacey Miles and David Powderly were invited into England youth team setups and across the whole technical department to gain first-hand experience of their work.

Over a 12-month period the quartet attended study visits and League Managers Association masterclasses, learnt more about County FA initiatives and spent time with FA youth and national coach developer teams who support the professional game.

Butch Fazal, The FA’s coach inclusion and diversity manager, said: “When we welcomed Kurt, Carly, Stacey and David as our third quartet of elite coach mentees, we wanted to expose them to experiences that would equip them with new skills and confidence to progress their coaching journeys.

“Twelve months later, It’s clear we have four graduates perfectly suited to take on every opportunity and any challenge presented to them."

The graduation ceremony looked back on each coach’s experiences and celebrated their individual achievements whilst taking part in the programme.

Stacey Miles said: "Overall the programme has made me a more confident person with most importantly more self -esteem, I leave the programme with high ambitions for the future."

Fellow graduate Carly Davies added: "I have met some unbelievably talented and experienced people in my time with The FA. I have continuously witnessed that being humble and offering your time to support comes across is a valuable trait in a person and it's something I've instilled into my philosophy."

Reflecting on the graduation evening, David Powderly said: "It's been a wonderful evening with people who have supported us through our time at The FA. To be able to see each mentee's journeys over the year has really put into perspective how much knowledge and experience we have gained."

Kurt Husnu shared this sentiment: "The evening was a great way to highlight the growth of each mentee, showing the varied exposure and experiences that the programme has provided.”