The FA Coach Mentor Programme offers on-the-ground support to coaches and volunteers within grassroots clubs.

FA Coach Mentor Dean Smith supports coaches within female football across Sheffield & Hallamshire and has been working with Steel City Wanderers FC who are a club that provide women and girls’ football opportunities.

The club are passionate about coach development and want to instil the same coaching values throughout each age group.

“Since been involved in the Coach Mentor programme we have really looked carefully at our club philosophy and took into consideration where we want the club to be in 5-10 years’ time. We ultimately want to create a ‘Steels’ identity”.

Developing and recruiting female coaches has been a particular focus for Steel City Wanderers over the past season. Ciara Douglas, Club Secretary stated “At one point there were only two female coaches throughout the club and now we have almost an equal split”.

“We always meet with potential new coaches to see whether they have the same ethos, ethics and ambition as the club”.

FA Coach Mentors work across a number of grassroots Charter Standard clubs and provide either group or one to one coach support. Coach mentoring comes in many forms from delivery coaching demonstrations, individual learning programmes to match day support.