The FA's new head of FA education, Chris Earle, has started his role at St. George's Park.
The former director of sport at the Aspire Academy in Qatar is tasked with leading The FA’s coach education and professional development programme to ensure the right number of qualified and appropriately-skilled coaches are active in the game.
"I'm extremely excited to be joining The FA,” explained Earle, who held the role of director of sport at Loughborough University before working in Qatar for three years.
“I want FA Education to be seen as the reference point for other national associations across the world.
“We need to support and prepare coaches who can identify, develop and maximise our talented and elite players”
Chris Earle Head of FA education
“But there are huge challenges ahead for us. We need more coaches to inspire and engage young people and to pass on to others a lifelong love of football.
“We need to support and prepare coaches who can identify, develop and maximise our talented and elite players.
“I want to make sure that we provide good access to high quality training and support for everyone who wants to help us build our national game.
Earle will be working to deliver his vision against the three challenges outlined in The FA Chairman’s England Commission report for English coaching:
1. There are too few qualified coaches, particularly at higher levels of qualification
2. Coach education and coach development needs to be joined up
3. There is a lack of ongoing support and mentoring for coaches
To do so, Earle says he will seek to build and maintain closer working relationships with the wider game.
“The FA Chairman’s England Commission has provided a clear brief and mandate to make the changes required to deliver excellence at all levels of football, from grassroots to international level," he said.
“It is critical that we work closely with County FAs, the Premier League and other key stakeholders to ensure that we achieve our ambitious targets.”
Dan Ashworth, FA technical director, believes The FA has got the right man for the challenge.
“Chris brings with him a range of skills and experiences across both grassroots and elite sports – which will be of huge benefit to The FA and the new education department.”
