Teenager Finn Roberts-Bond became the youngest ever Uefa B licensed coach last month and hopes he can prove to be something of a trailblazer in 2017.
The 18-year-old from Brixton, south London set out on the coaching path shortly after his 16th birthday having come to terms with the fact he was unlikely to succeed in playing professionally.
Having dedicated the last two years to ensuring he could still have a future in football Roberts-Bond now splits his time between working with Chelsea and his beloved Dulwich Hamlet.
He describes each day as a “dream” and believes any others with the same desire to have a future in football has no reason to see age as a barrier.
“There were 28 of us on the B course, including six females and a real range of ages,” he said.
“I was the youngest there by a good few years. Some of them said to me I was a bit young and should still try and play, but anything that was said to me was always supportive and they also said what a great position I’d be in if I passed now.
“If I knew of anyone with a similar story to me, a decent footballer, probably not good enough to be a pro, I’d tell them to do what I did and, more than that, I’d happily mentor them through and give them any help I could.
“There was someone at school with me, Supanat Tangtrakoon, who came here from Thailand five years ago and did not speak a word of English. I gave him a little bit of help and now he’s aiming to do his Uefa B licence. It’s amazing what he has achieved.
“I had a mentor Colin King, who works in FA Learning and he gave me so much advice on the steps to take.
“I can honestly say that without Colin King I wouldn’t be a B licensed coach. I just wouldn’t have got there without him to keep me focused, hungry and guide me through. The support was superb.”
Roberts-Bond looks to "consummate professional" Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho for his pathway to the top as his inspirations in the game, as well as someone he has worked with at close quarters, Dulwich Hamlet boss Gavin Rose.
Despite being self-assured, Roberts-Bond knows just how difficult a task it will be to follow in the footsteps of those Manchester-based managers but is ready to embrace everything that comes his way.
“My dream is to be able to live off doing something I love,” he added.
“To do anything above that would be a privilege.
“I wasn’t the most focused kid at school.
“I did ok in my exams in the end, but I always had a desire to become a coach. One of the teachers used to say to me any job in football would be good for me, so that made me determined.”
For more information on how you can begin your coaching path click here.
