Elsewhere In Football #19
- Dec 30, 2025
- 5 min read
A Year of Renewal: Leadership, Resilience, and the Power of Long-Term Vision
The past twelve months have marked one of the most profound periods of growth in my life—personally, professionally, and philosophically.
As I look ahead to the next year, I do so with clarity, confidence, and genuine excitement about what lies ahead.
Looking Back: From Professional Rock Bottom to Reset.....
Rewind to Christmas 2024 and I was emerging from the most difficult year of my life. I was out of football. My club in Cambodia had been banned. I had just returned to the UK after fourteen years away, uncertain not only about my career but about my identity.
Professionally, I was at my lowest ebb. I hadn’t coached on the field for nearly a year. My reputation in Cambodia had taken significant damage, and I genuinely believed my time in football might be over. Years of navigating red tape, politics, and corruption had drained my passion for the game. Walking away felt less like a choice and more like a necessity.
Leaving Cambodia was deeply challenging. Being separated from my wife and children, with no clear timeline for reunion, was unsettling. Yet returning home brought perspective. For the first time in decades, I was living with my parents and sister—people I hadn’t shared daily life with since I was 20. We spent Christmas together, something we hadn’t done in years.
I also returned to work at my father’s construction company. It was grounding to be surrounded by honest, hardworking people—earning a fair wage for real work. I was out of football, but I was exactly where I needed to be.
Turning 40: Reframing the Future....
At the start of the year, I turned 40. Rather than dwell on what had been lost, I wrote down ten things I wanted to achieve by the time I turned 50. That exercise became a reset: clear goals, renewed motivation, and a commitment to build forward rather than look back.
Falling Back in Love with the Game....
England is unique in world football. The game never stops. You can watch, coach, or play every single day.
I immersed myself again—attending close to 30 live matches across all levels in 2025, while consuming countless hours of football analysis and broadcasts. The simple act of walking into a stadium still carries the same magic. The sounds, the smells—it all reminded me why I fell in love with the game in the first place.
I began applying for coaching roles and quickly confronted a harsh reality: football globally continues to undervalue coaching expertise. I know UEFA Pro Licence holders applying for roles paying £1,200 per month. Academy work often pays £15 per session—barely covering fuel costs. After investing tens of thousands into development, these economics are unsustainable and damaging to the profession.
That said, money wasn’t my motivator.
I joined Cambridge United, earning enough elsewhere to focus purely on coaching. Every Friday night, I was back on the grass, working with talented young players, exactly where I belonged. Hearing Darren Bent reference the strength of Cambridge United’s academy system on TalkSPORT validated that decision.
Opportunities followed—roles in Thailand, and even a potential assistant coaching position in the sixth tier of English football. But it was an unexpected LinkedIn message that changed everything.
Building Football Culture in India...
“Would you be interested in coaching an academy in India?”
The answer was immediate: yes.
The interviews took place across continents—one on my mother’s couch in England, another in a guesthouse reception in Thailand while visiting my family. From the first conversation, it was clear this was a leader I wanted to work with and a vision I believed in.
Unlike previous projects, this one had guaranteed funding and long-term intent.
India, in my view, remains the greatest untapped footballing puzzle on the planet. The opportunity to help build something meaningful from the ground up was irresistible.
Before heading to India, I met my new employer in Gothenburg, where his sons were training under Carsten Effertz, one of the world’s leading speed development specialists. I spent two invaluable days at IFK Göteborg, including coaching alongside Roger Gustafsson—arguably the godfather of Swedish football.
Despite having achieved everything the game can offer, Roger was still inflating balls, sorting bibs, and coaching U8s with the same passion he always had. I spent nearly three hours in conversation with him. It remains one of the most important learning experiences of my career.
Executing the Vision.....
In April, I travelled to India to deliver two coach education courses and assess the football landscape firsthand. I fell in love with the country almost immediately. The original plan was to return six months later—but momentum matters. We decided to act.
After one final visit with my family, I returned to the UK to complete the employment visa process. In August 2025, I officially joined Sahayak FC.
Since then, we’ve begun building something genuinely special. We now coach over 600 children per week, with plans to reach 2,000 in 2026. Our U10 league is the first of its kind in Uttarakhand, and we are developing a new generation of local coaches alongside our players. This is grassroots football done properly—structured, inclusive, and sustainable.
Family First: A New Chapter Together...
Professionally, the transition was smooth. Personally, it was far harder.
Being separated from my wife and children was deeply challenging, made worse by the escalation of the Thai-Cambodian conflict in July, which put them in real danger and made travel impossible. When I finally reunited with them in Vietnam in August, the plan was a one-month trial in India.
They adapted instantly.
The culture, the lifestyle, the community—it captured all of us. The geopolitical situation accelerated our plans, but even without it, I’m convinced we would have chosen to stay. My wife is inspired and energised. My eldest son has developed a confidence I hadn’t seen before, and my youngest is thriving at school.
Living near the mountains, experiencing new seasons, and being part of a vibrant community has transformed our family life.
Looking Ahead....
Alongside my work in India, the Nauru Project continues to progress, with major developments planned for 2026. I’m also involved in initiatives in Kiribati, with Bougainville expressing strong interest.
After five years in Cambodia—the longest I’ve lived in any one country since childhood—I’ve rediscovered my sense of movement and possibility. This year alone has taken me to Sweden, India, Thailand, Vietnam, and Nepal, alongside our children’s first beach holiday.
The transformation over the past twelve months has been remarkable. I’m growing professionally, fulfilled personally, reunited with my family, and in good health. I have clear goals ahead—and a few wrongs still to right.
The journey is far from over.
Watch this space.
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