SEDGLEY & GORNAL
UNITED FC
U14's 25/26 SEASON
Mitch Gough - Me & My Journey
My name it Mitch, married to Natalie since 2010 and we have 2 Boys
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In terms of Football I played for Dudley Town from the age of 9 until when I left school.
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When I left school I had the chance to work abroad so playing football took a break for me.
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When I returned to the UK, I began helping coaching in Boxing where my Uncle and Dad ran a Boxing club I had previously trained and boxed at.
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I played football again socially with friends and in various leagues through work afterwards.
When my first son was born in 2011, with working fulltime and supporting my wife - some things naturally took a backseat. I was no longer able to support at the boxing gym and my playing football stopped. I got my fix of football every other Saturday at home Games with my Season Ticket at Wolves.
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in 2018 my eldest son expressed an interest in playing in Goal. I approached a local club (Sedgley and Gornal United) and began taking him to weekly training sessions. He was asked if he wanted to play for the team and signed up to play. I started off like most as the Dad on the Sideline who volunteered to run the line for games and help put the goals up!
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Fast forward 8 months and the coach of the team had to go away to Jamaica for a Funeral. His assistant needed support as he was off for a month so I stepped up and helped after completing the necessary Level 1, Safeguarding and First Aid requirements.
​I was hooked right away. I enjoyed coaching at the Boxing Club but Football has always been my passion. I just wanted to learn more and make myself a better coach, so in turn I was more equipped to help and support my players better.
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I enrolled on the UEFA C and successfully completed the course. Through my learning and connecting with other coaches was able to plan and to put on better sessions. I still wanted to do more, I completed my National Goalkeeper course to support that position, I completed my Talent ID Level 1 and 2 and recently have become Vice Chair of the Club I began running the line for. I connected with other coaches spent time on the grass supporting other age groups and working in other environments.
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Keen to progress my learning further I applied for a Football Development coaching role at Wolves. After a successful interview and practical delivery I was delighted to be offered a position there. My role at Wolves is my first paid role in football. I work in the Football Development Team coaching a syllabus of topics. The skills I had learned on my UEFA C help me to plan structured sessions with progressions (or even regressions if required) and this was a minimum requirement for the role at Wolves so investing the time in yourself really is worth it.
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Keen to progress my learning I applied for the UEFA B course. I attended block one and after the 3 days in the car on the way back I really had a moment of "Is this for me?." "Am I out of my Depth" "Oh Sh*t".
My Tutor, Martyn was very supportive. He called me to check in as he does. I was sat in the car in the car park at work. I told him that I was concerned that the level of detail and depth on the course was wasted on me, and It was more then I needed and I was concerned I wouldn't get it. Martyn asked me simply why I was doing the B licence..... I told him that I want to develop myself as a coach to support my players as best I can...… he paused and said "There is your answer my friend" - you are on a Journey and your players will grow on the journey too, or your journey may take you on another path. Your giving yourself the tools to support yourself along your journey. You don't know what you don't know and your on a development Journey yourself.
This calm clarity was perfect for me, and to be honest lit a fire. Martyn has been brilliant for me. I can bounce things off him, ask him questions nothing is ever too much. He really gave me the confidence and lit a fire with that chat in the car park! After this I dived in both feet! I went away and did more sessions with Wolves after this, asking if I could work with different age groups, male and female and spend more time on the grass. I got to coach Tour Groups at Compton who come over from all over the world and have sessions in the Academy. I was given the opportunity to showcase the Wolves Football Development Department and coach internationally in Jinan (China). This was a fantastic opportunity and I was very grateful of the chance. Following my return and feedback Wolves asked me if I would take on APC (Advanced Player Centre) sessions as part of the next step along the player development pathway leading to Academy. I was grateful of this opportunity and progression and felt like my hard work was rewarded, but also my detail in coaching improving enough to be asked to do this. I was asked to be the Lead at a new venue and support other Wolves coaches which I obliged. I was asked If I would like to do another international, this time in France, which I obliged and again enjoyed the learning and experience.
My further learning on the B Course is helping me more and again gives real credibility to you as a coach but also your commitment to development as a coach. Being paid to coach at Wolves made me feel for the first time that my coaching is valued and appreciated. This gave me more confidence and desire to develop myself further. The importance of the support from Martyn cant be understated. If he didn't take the time to speak to me and talk openly with me, my journey may have stopped there. I am very grateful for that conversation in the car park!
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My latest turn on my Coaching Journey has let me to work with Birmingham City University. A role was advertised for a Head Coach of the Women's First Team. I applied. I got a call for a telephone interview. I was then asked to deliver a session with the squad and discuss my footballing philosophy. I obliged. I arrived at the Alexander stadium under the lights knowing that from the candidates asked to deliver - I was last. I was nervous but thought back to the discussion with Martyn who told me I was on a journey. I told the players in the session debrief that development starts with a connection and I want to make a connection to know them as individuals and through authentic connection we can develop as a team together. The feedback afterwards was that the players loved the detail in the session but also the realism in me wanting to get to know them too. I was offered the role and have started another new Journey now too.
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​​Football has been something for me that has offered me support, salvation and the opportunity to try and help others. I believe in its power to help people and whilst a very small percentage of people "make it" EVERYONE can participate and build friendships and relationships. I lost my Father unexpectedly in 2017. I struggled to even step foot back into the boxing gym where I had coached alongside him. Being involved in grassroots football helped me make connections to people and find another support network.
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Mom Sadly passed away in July 2024. My Football Family, coaches who I met and connected with on the UEFA C, parents of players who I have coached in the passed and coaches of other teams internally within the club have reached out in support.
Football is powerful. I've supported children who have been in social care and given them the chance to play football and discover themselves through football. Kids who have been isolated at school have come to training sessions and socially broken down barriers and created friendship groups. A player who was told "he wasn't good enough" at 11 years old came to sessions with us. We got him to love football again, got him playing and participating. He left us to play Saturday Football and the "Thankyou" Card his Mom sent me (Left) - that stays on my desk at work and is worth more then a 93rd minute winner..............just about :-)
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MY PHILOSOPHY
Since I have embarked on this Journey my Philosophy has changed I would say. Right at the very start of the process if you were to ask me "what next" I would of said "Next Badge" "Get into Academy Coaching" But Ive come to see and understand just how powerful football is and the connections you can have with people and enrich their lives for the better through it. The B licence has enabled me to put the Meat on the Bones with regards to planning and delivering sessions with technical details bespoke to my players needs. However its making the connections with the players and the effect you can have on them that has become more important. Starting with BCUWFC 1st team as Head Coach has shown me that more then ever. I now want to build the Football side on the Womens Game at the University. The Men have 5 teams, we have 1. I want to grow that at the University and I believe that through genuine connection with players and creating the right learning environment I can. Im not in a rush to jump on the next course I can, I want to use what I have gained to go out now and imporve things. I have come across alot of "badge collectors" and its sad to see as I dont think they are getting the real connection with players.
So to sum it up Id say my coach philosophy centres around connection, development and commitment. I believe that truly knowing my players as people is the foundation for effective coaching. Understanding their personalities, motivations, strengths and areas for growth allows me to design sessions that are not only technically and tactically relevant but also personally meaningful and can challenge players.
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My goal as a coach is to build a culture where effort, accountability and togetherness drive what we do. I support my players on and off the pitch and believe in open communication both ways.
THE TEAM - SEDGLEY & GORNAL UNITED U14s BOYS
Sedgley and Gornal United's Mission Statement as a club is "To provide a positive influence within the community of the North Dudley Borough and South East Wolverhampton through football and creating exceptional training, playing and social opportunities for all in a safe, enjoyable and sustainable way"
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This aligns with me, and also enables me to build on my own Core Values.
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Our Under 13's Boys have played their first season 11v11 having stepped up from the 9v9 Format.
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The team lost a number of players last season. As the boys went to high school friendship groups mix and change and some players stopped playing, others went to new teams where their new social group of friends where at and some others left to play Saturday Football too.
We struggled last season with physicality. Particularly where some opponents had players who had matured earlier. It has been a test to support my players psychologically at times and guide them through this challenging time in their life and some of them have had a real block when seeing a tall 12/13 year old warm up against them!
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We currently play in Stourbridge & District Youth Football League - Division 4. My pre-season objectives were to support the lads in their learning of the change of format to 11v11, provide a positive and supporting learning environment for them to engage socially with their team mates and to start to introduce tactical understanding to them to support this learning journey. In terms of "what does a successful season look like" Its a team that works together, works hard and works for each other. I want them to work hard out of possession and work intelligently in possession.
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As we have began to instil this into the lads, we can
start to think about how we play based on the profile
of the players we have available and their strengths
as a unit. We have decided to play in a 1-3-5-2
Formation. This allows us to try and gain a
numerical advantage in midfield and create overloads
but also support our ideal of building out from the
back. Our Wingbacks give us width and create
overlaps and we can also play direct and long when
there is the option too.
My Core Values - Personal
- Willingness to Learn
- Passion for Football
- Always Work Hard
- To Respect People
- To Be Inclusive
- To Set High Standards
- To Be Positive
- Support People
My Core Values - In Coaching
- Know your Players
- Plan, Do, Review
- Relevant, Repetitive and Realistic Coaching Sessions
- Train with high effort and Intensity as you would play
- Development over Results - Especially with Younger Players
- EAT. Effort, Attitude, Teamwork
- Fun & Engaging Sessions
My Players Core Values.
I Like to spend time at the start of a
season having a classroom session
with the players. We can review last
season, we can discuss what we want
to achieve this season and I get chance
to ask them to complete feedback forms
for me to review. I ask them what's
important to them, what they enjoy, what
they don't enjoy and what that want to
achieve. This helps me form what their
core values are.
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- Enjoy Football
- Improve myself
- Spend time with my Friends
- Play in a higher league as possible
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Why S&G?
"Hi, Im Vishals Dad. Vishal knows Siraj and Yussuf and they have been saying that you have a football training session at Bishop Milner on a Thursday that's fun and they have been getting better at football. Would it be possible to bring Vishal along?"
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The above type of text I receive is one that I love. My Players are talking about my sessions at school to their friends. They are engaged and enjoying it. ​I have had to adapt my sessions to "Squad Only" and "Open Training - for all" as some weeks players were just turning up to play with their parents as they had been discussing the sessions with their peers.
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I like to keep high energy in my sessions. I like to push and motivate the players. I like to engage with them positively and heap praise. I want them to feel 10 feet tall when they have done something we have asked them too. This carries through into game day. Positivity is powerful. Everyone will make mistakes so can I try and "catch my players in" doing something well and can I heap praise on that.
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"lads, I know its muddy the playing surface is difficult today but can we stick to what we are trying to achieve and work hard high up the pitch this second half and try and recover possession high up? Lets set you a target of trying to score a goal from stealing the ball from an interception. If we can do that, and be consistent in out approach second half - I'll be happy"
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"Mitch - if we can win this half, will you do a
mud slide?"
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"Absolutely"
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HT 2-0
FT 2-2
Mrs Gough annoyed that I'm dirtier then
the goalkeeper.
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The Above is just an example of how I bring
to life my core values of positivity and fun and
engaging sessions into my coaching. I also
listen to my players and understand how
important it is for them to have fun and enjoy their football. There are difficult situations and scenarios that arise throughout the course of a season. However I firmly believe that the difficult conversations are easier to have when you need to have them if as a whole your players feel like you have their best interests at heart. I mentioned a player I was working with who was in social care. He was temporarily moved away from a different area for safety reasons and wanted to play football. His care worker contacted me and we discussed his behaviour, how he was struggling at school and in the care home to make connections.
I asked for him to come training if he wanted too. I introduced him to the lads and said that ever new players who comes for a second session had to bring a joke for the group, he smiled and came the week after with a joke.
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He started to come out of his shell and he engaged with our lads. He asked me if he could play on a Sunday after 2 sessions and I said you have to show a commitment to training to be signed as we are only allowed a group of 18. He continued to show commitment and we signed him. He was so proud to receive his kit - he felt like he belonged somewhere.
However an incident happened in a match and a ref reported to me that he has sworn at another player in the post match handshake. I pulled him to one side with his care worker and told him this was unacceptable behaviour and he would now be suspended. This was difficult, but because the player and his guardian knew me and my rules they knew that it was a non negotiable. After his suspension he came back, apologised to me and to the lads and played the rest of the season. He relocated back to be with his family so couldn't continue playing with us but I let him keep his kit as a reminder that he is part of our team always.
