With a playing career spanning 20 years, 15 years’ coaching experience and 8 years’ experience scouting for Premier League clubs such as Everton, Manchester City and Liverpool, Craig is the ideal person to lead our trial day team.

Craig also has 5 years' experience in 1-1 coaching, running soccer schools, and leading grassroots teams. He holds a Level 2 coaching qualification, alongside a Youth Module 2, First Aid certification and a full DBS clearance.

Craig brings a wealth of experience to our trial days, with numerous contacts in the professional and semi-professional game.

Craig also undertakes the risk assessments for Pro11 as a qualified IOSHH officer and is the company’s Welfare Officer.

Nick has 25+ years of playing experience at various levels and has been coaching for more than 15 years. His claim to fame was being able to play in one of the last-ever games at Wembley Stadium before it was rebuilt.

Nick is currently undertaking his UEFA B Licence and holds FA Youth Awards & FA Talent ID LV2 Scouting.

Being a professional scout Nick attends our trial days not only to identify and recommend talent, but as a senior coach within the Pro11 team; providing trialists with great experience and a unique insight into what EFL scouts are looking for in a player.

Stewart has worked for a number of Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Manchester City Ladies, Burnley, Southampton & Barnet, developing players within academy categories 1 to 4. With 30 years of coaching experience, he brings a wealth of knowledge in developing players performing with clubs in the Professional & Semi-Professional game. He holds a UEFA A coaching licence, as well as an FA Youth Award & Talent ID Certificates.

Stewart is a specialist Position Specific Development coach, currently working with a variety of players from the grassroots game to the professional game, including a number of youth internationals and also offers 1-1 and small group training with his business Coaching the Coachable in Greater Manchester.

Dan is an ex-professional footballer who has played for clubs in England, Scotland, Sweden and Iceland.

He is now a coach for Chesterfield FC Women whilst also working as a scout for an agency (Fraser Sports Management) who offer opportunities to play internationally for clubs in Europe.

He has a reputation for spotting goalkeeping talent and for providing excellent training and feedback on Pro11 trial days.

Matt is one of Pro11’s very own success stories! He came to Pro11 as a player for one of our open age trials with the aim of getting scouted and was subsequently offered an opportunity with a non-league club at the age of 21. This led to several trials for clubs including Stockport Town, Cheadle Town, Denton Town, and lastly making the first team for Medlock Rangers. Matt took his coaching qualifications at the age of 16, as he wanted to give players the opportunity he didn’t have when he was younger. He is a Level 1 coach for both Football and Futsal and has recently passed his UEFA C qualification. Matt has been coaching with Pro1 since 2018, and with a unique perspective of how the trials work, and having played the game for nearly 20 years, has plenty of advice and experience to offer to our trialists. Matt holds testament that if you really want to be a footballer, you should never give up! Matt also runs his own 1-1 and small group coaching sessions in and around the Greater Manchester area - please contact Milligans Coaching on 07528 498708 for more information.

Dan has 13 years’ coaching experience, ranging from grassroots coaching to senior first team football, as well as working in academy football and development centres. He holds a UEFA B License and the FAs Youth Award, and has recently obtained a degree in football coaching and talent development at UCFB Etihad Campus. He also has experience in university football and is a coach for the senior men’s England National Transplant team. He has coached junior players for Blackburn at their development centre and is also a centre manager for Fox Soccer, who specialise in individual technical player development.

With over 25 years of coaching experience, Chris has held a number of positions in both the men’s and women’s game, from 1st Team Manager to Academy scout. He has spent time with Cambridge United, Leicester City, Barnsley Women, Leeds Rhinos RLFC and Bury Ladies, where he guided them to 3 cup finals and 2 successive top 3 finishes.

Specialising in athletic & speed development, Chris works 1-2-1 with academy and grassroots players in both football and rugby. His passion for fitness has seen him compete in England’s Strongest Man in 2024, and he also played regimental football and rugby during his 8 years of military service, which took in a 6-month duty to Iraq as a Combat Medic.

As well as running a football consultancy and sports performance business, Chris currently scouts for Stockport County Academy and is passionate about supporting players and their families throughout their footballing careers.

Dwayne is an FA qualified coach from Hayes, West London, who often coaches for us at our South East venues. He has been coaching for more than 20 years and has coached at a number of levels both paid and voluntary, including new starters to the game of all ages to build confidence, a development centre associated to a championship club, and at grassroots for various age groups. Dwyane is also very active in the community and with charity work in the local area and also runs Confidence Through Football. Dwayne says he loves being a coach and was actually awarded Coach of the Year for Berks and Bucks in 2020.

Sean began his football career playing with Wigan Athletic Academy U21’s, Preston North End U18’s and also played at a semi-professional level with Horwich RMI football club.

He has 17 years of experience working for Wigan Athletic Academy as a coach and also worked for the MLS for 5 years. Sean is now working as a scout with Bolton Wanderers FC Academy.

Sean has a BSC in Sports Science, a PGCE in Physical Education and 27 years ‘ secondary teaching experience. He also holds a UEFA B for both Outfield and Goalkeeping.

With years of experience in playing, coaching in professional academies, and as a scout, Sean is an asset to our expanding GK specialist team!

Theo is a coach with 5 years of experience, who has ranged from development centres, through to grassroots and community coaching. Theo’s main aim is to help players improve to try and help them get into academy football.

Theo has a FA Level 1 coaching badge and has recently graduated from UCFB, where he studied Football Coaching and Talent Development. Since graduating, Theo has secured a role as a coach with a Category 1 Academy.

James has been coaching for 5 years and has experience within both male and female footballing environments. He is currently studying for an undergraduate degree in Football Coaching & Talent Development at UCFB and has recently completed his UEFA B Licence qualification.

Alongside this, he is a First Team Coach for Huddersfield Town Women, Assistant Manager for the UCFB Men’s 2nd team and an International Academy Coach for Liverpool FC, with recent experiences at non-league clubs such as Macclesfield FC and Pontefract Collieries. James brings all these positive influences to his coaching philosophy and pedagogy to his sessions on Pro11 Trials days.

Abby currently plays for FC United of Manchester, which is in Tier 5 of the women’s football pyramid. She is also studying at Manchester Metropolitan University on the Manchester City Coaching Degree.

Abby is hoping to help expand the progress of the female game, giving girls the chance to express their talents and be seen on the big stage.

She says: ‘I am ambitious and passionate about football, which is why I have joined Pro11, not just for the experience in a different coaching field, but also to learn from some top coaches and develop the upcoming generation of elite players.’

As a coach, Josh says his coaching philosophy centres around three core principles: Player development, Team Unity, and Adaptability. He believes in nurturing talent, focusing on technical ability and detail, helping players reach their full potential so that they can have an impact in a successful team.

His coaching journey has taken him from grassroots youth teams to professional academies, working with clubs such as Bolton Wanderers and Abha Club in the UAE, with diverse age groups. His qualifications include coaching licenses UEFA B and ongoing professional development.

A new recruit for Pro11 for 2025, Cam has built 5 years of diverse coaching experience while studying Football Coaching and Talent Development at UCFB Manchester. Cam has further developed his practical understanding of football coaching and talent identification through education at the FA and PFSA; Level 2 in Talent Identification, Level 2 in Opposition Analysis and starting the UEFA B License in summer 2025.

Cam’s coaching experiences primarily focus on youth development, and he has coached grassroots boys aged from 7-16 across the North East and North West of England. While studying at UCFB, Cam coached the men’s 3rd team and managed the men’s 2nd team. More recently, Cam has begun to coach boys and girls in the PDC and ETC at the Foundation of Light (SAFC).

Dan is one of the newest members of the Pro 11 team. Dan coaches for several Football Academies from age groups under 8 all the way to under 15’s. He is Lead Goalkeeper coach and an outfield coach for Leeds United u19’s. Dan gained his outfield UEFA B a number of years ago and has helped and developed a high number of talented young people both on the field and off. More recently, Dan has passed his UEFA C Goalkeeper badge and is currently working towards his UEFA A license outfield coaching badge. With a number of success stories under his belt, he brings a wealth of experience to Pro11. Dan undertakes 1-1 coaching for both goalkeeping and outfield players in the Yorkshire area - please contact him on 07725 551877 for more information.

Geoff has a number of years of experience in the game and holds both UEFA A and UEFA C Licenses. Over the years, he has coached boys and girls ranging from the age of 4 years old to adults, and whose ability levels have ranged from beginner to professional/international. His previous coaching positions held include:-

• Academy Coach at English League professional clubs, Tranmere Rovers FC, and Chester City FC.
• Head of Academy at Bangor City FC, a Welsh professional club.
• Lead Coach for Toronto FC Community Program.
• Head Provincial Coach for New Zealand FA.
• Goalkeeper coach for the North Wales U-18 National boys' team.
• Regional Coach/Manager for FAW-endorsed Community Coach Program, producing UEFA C License Coaches.
• Head Coach to semi-professional clubs in New Zealand and Canada.

Geoff brings a huge amount of knowledge and experience, and we are delighted to welcome him to coach on our trial days!

Sam is a product of the Manchester City Academy, which he joined at U10 and played right through to the U16 age group. He then played as part of the Manchester City youth team and went on to earn a professional contract with the club in 2015. During his time at City, Sam was recognised at an international level with Wales at both U17 and U19 age groups.

Since then, Sam has gained international experience for pro clubs in Northern Europe, including playing as a defender for Brattvag IL in the League 2 division in Norway, and recently joining Naestved Boldklub in Denmark as a coach and player.

Sam joined Pro11 in 2018 initially as a coach and has worked in numerous roles since, to his current role of Social Media Executive, which he completes alongside playing and coaching professionally.