Earlier this month, West Ham United Women invited Sister Club Tigers JFC to their Chadwell Heath training ground, specifically, young coaches and referees from their Futures programme.
Tigers JFC is an F.A. Charter Standard Development Football Club based in Hornchurch, which incorporates one of the largest female sections within Essex.
The Hammers have been affiliated with Tigers via the Sister Club programme since 2019, with a number of first-team players and coaching staff attending events over the past three years, including their Wildcats Football Festival which took place in November.
The Futures programme was set up by Tigers in 2014, as a way of giving back to those that had progressed through the ranks of the team – enabling them to progress into either coaching or refereeing.
Eleven of the Futures group met Women’s manager Paul Konchesky, as well as general manager Aidan Boxall for a tour of the facilities at Chadwell Heath, before heading into the presentation room to be given an insight into performance analysis by analyst Jackson Huxley.
They also met former West Ham United skipper Mark Noble, and posed for a photo alongside Konchesky, Boxall, assistant manager Jimmy Walker, first-team coach Dani Bowman and defender Kirsty Smith.
Futures coaches and referee’s work with younger age groups at the football Club, alongside qualified coaches where they gain the basic skills and knowledge needed to progress through the ranks.
The idea is that Tigers will have a healthy number of coaches and referees within their own Club, but also have some that take the step into coaching or refereeing in the professional game.
Chairman of Tigers JFC, Keith Di Palma said the experience of seeing a professional set-up at West Ham United will give those on the Futures programme extra incentive to continue following their passions.
“The whole morning was a fantastic opportunity for our young futures to take a look at a professional set-up,” Di Palma explained.
“It’s always a privilege to be able to go behind-the-scenes and see the inner workings of a football club, and I’m sure that everyone will have taken something away with them.
“Going into the presentation room and going through video with the analysis team was very educational and shows another route that our futures can go down if they have a passion for that area.
“Finally, meeting the wider coaching team, players and Mark Noble was a real treat,” he concluded.
Cassie Shields, who joined the Futures programme in September said that the day was a wonderful experience.
“The visit really opened my eyes as to what goes on behind the scenes of a professional club and how many different roles there are.
"I found the analysis and how much effort goes into getting the team ready for each match.
"I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to coach at Chadwell Heath," she said.
For more information on the Tigers Futures programme, please head to their website: https://www.tigersjfc.com/information#Tigers-Futures
