Katie Bottom is a woman on a mission; starring for West Ham Ladies is just is not enough for this Hammers fan.
Bottom is now five years into a career with West Ham United Foundation that has seen her work with thousands of children in schools across east London and Essex, gain countless qualifications and impress top bods at West Ham and the Premier League enough to ensure not one, but two trips across the globe to develop the skills of other coaches as far afield as India.
Speaking her second trip to Mumbai to deliver the Premier Skills initiative, the 23-year-old said: “I love coaching – I really, truly love it.
Bottom returned from Mumbai nearly two weeks ago now. Having stood out as a talented coach educator, and a passionate ambassador of football for women and girls, she was requested by the Premier League to assist in the delivery of coach education alongside her peers from other Premier League clubs.
“When I got the call inviting me to travel to Mumbai I was in America, and I thought ‘Rashid (Programme manager at West Ham United Foundation) doesn’t normally ring me!” she smiled.
“I was really excited; after travelling to Kolkata with Premier Skills in 2015 I really wanted to go again. I had to turn down a second opportunity last year which I was absolutely gutted about, so I was delighted to still get another opportunity to go back.”
Bottom is now five years into a career with West Ham United Foundation that has seen her work with thousands of children in schools across east London and Essex, gain countless qualifications and impress top bods at West Ham and the Premier League enough to ensure not one, but two trips across the globe to develop the skills of other coaches as far afield as India.
Speaking her second trip to Mumbai to deliver the Premier Skills initiative, the 23-year-old said: “I love coaching – I really, truly love it.
Bottom returned from Mumbai nearly two weeks ago now. Having stood out as a talented coach educator, and a passionate ambassador of football for women and girls, she was requested by the Premier League to assist in the delivery of coach education alongside her peers from other Premier League clubs.
“When I got the call inviting me to travel to Mumbai I was in America, and I thought ‘Rashid (Programme manager at West Ham United Foundation) doesn’t normally ring me!” she smiled.
“I was really excited; after travelling to Kolkata with Premier Skills in 2015 I really wanted to go again. I had to turn down a second opportunity last year which I was absolutely gutted about, so I was delighted to still get another opportunity to go back.”
How could I say no to something that combines my passion for travel with my love for football?
Katie Bottom
The Premier Skills initiative is delivered by the Premier League in association with the British Council across 25 countries in Asia, Africa and the Americas and aims to develop the skills of underprivileged communities whilst drawing on the expertise of the top clubs in the English game.
This year the programme has also partnered with the Indian Super League (ISL) and its clubs for the first time. The ISL is the biggest footballing competition in India, and matches often draw attendances of in access of 50,000. It is this partnership, which sees Premier League clubs coach the coaches of ISL clubs and elite grassroots teams, that really ignited Bottom’s passion during the trip.
“I really enjoy coach education and it’s not something I get to do as often as I’d like,” she continued. “Normally back in England I’d be coaching every day, so the opportunity to develop the skills I’ve learnt at West Ham United Foundation and through the Learn to Coach programme is fantastic!
“The first three days of the trip were spent working with ISL coaches, showing them sessions we use at West Ham United and in the Premier League. Often the coaches in Mumbai are working with very little equipment, so we also spent time teaching them inclusive sessions that they could deliver in their communities with very little cost.
“The next three days were spent teaching them to be coach educators, focusing on how they’d deliver their session to increase a coaches’ ability, rather than a player.
“On the final day we got to celebrate the successes of the week, and support the coaches we had worked with as they delivered a festival for children from local schools in Mumbai. This was fantastic; we’d worked with the coaches all week so it was great to work with the children. Seeing their faces when they got to play on a 3G pitch was a real highlight – they’re used to concrete.”
This year the programme has also partnered with the Indian Super League (ISL) and its clubs for the first time. The ISL is the biggest footballing competition in India, and matches often draw attendances of in access of 50,000. It is this partnership, which sees Premier League clubs coach the coaches of ISL clubs and elite grassroots teams, that really ignited Bottom’s passion during the trip.
“I really enjoy coach education and it’s not something I get to do as often as I’d like,” she continued. “Normally back in England I’d be coaching every day, so the opportunity to develop the skills I’ve learnt at West Ham United Foundation and through the Learn to Coach programme is fantastic!
“The first three days of the trip were spent working with ISL coaches, showing them sessions we use at West Ham United and in the Premier League. Often the coaches in Mumbai are working with very little equipment, so we also spent time teaching them inclusive sessions that they could deliver in their communities with very little cost.
“The next three days were spent teaching them to be coach educators, focusing on how they’d deliver their session to increase a coaches’ ability, rather than a player.
“On the final day we got to celebrate the successes of the week, and support the coaches we had worked with as they delivered a festival for children from local schools in Mumbai. This was fantastic; we’d worked with the coaches all week so it was great to work with the children. Seeing their faces when they got to play on a 3G pitch was a real highlight – they’re used to concrete.”
With so much experience under her belt, Bottom is sure to be in demand again soon, but would she go back to India for a third time?
“Absolutely! I really love travelling and rarely turn down the chance to experience new cultures and see something new. How could I say no to something that combines my passion for travel with my love for football?”
Would you like to learn to coach? Opportunities are available via West Ham United Foundation to men and women is east London and Essex.
To find out more about learning to coach, contact Rashid Abba by email.
*Catch Katie in action for West Ham Ladies this Sunday afternoon at Thurrock FC, when the Hammers host Crystal Palace Ladies in the London FA Capital Women’s Cup first round at 2pm.
“Absolutely! I really love travelling and rarely turn down the chance to experience new cultures and see something new. How could I say no to something that combines my passion for travel with my love for football?”
Would you like to learn to coach? Opportunities are available via West Ham United Foundation to men and women is east London and Essex.
To find out more about learning to coach, contact Rashid Abba by email.
*Catch Katie in action for West Ham Ladies this Sunday afternoon at Thurrock FC, when the Hammers host Crystal Palace Ladies in the London FA Capital Women’s Cup first round at 2pm.