Despite only being at Brentford FC Community Sports Trust for three years, community coach Nathan has continued to progress throughout the schools department. Nathan always had a passion for football after being introduced to it by his dad and brother before he could walk. The first game he ever attended was at Griffin Park watching Brentford play Yeovil Town.

Although Nathan is not a Brentford fan his attachment to the Club has been intertwined throughout his youth. It wasn’t, however, until Nathan reached his second year at St Mary’s University, in Twickenham, that he heard the Trust were looking for new coaches. Nathan was successful in applying for a zero-hour coaching role began to pick up a number of hours based around his studies which involved working for different projects across the Trust from school sport to our disability sessions.

Nathan said that the experience of working with different projects was “extremely insightful", and added: "The experience I got working with different groups of participants definitely helped me in my studies and I saw a future career working with the Trust. The fact that the Trust also allowed me to be flexible with work based on my studies also benefitted me as I saw friends at university struggling with their finances the work I did with the Trust allowed me to be fully independent.”

After leaving university Nathan was offered a part-time schools contract. Due to an opening this was increased to a full-time contract and Nathan was made the lead PE coordinator at Mount Carmel Primary School, in Ealing, a role he held for two years. Alongside being the full-time school lead Nathan also continued to pick up extra sessions working on both the boys and girls Football Development Centres which benefit his personal development  as he continues to work towards his FA Coaching qualifications.

Nathan had an opportunity to further progress within the schools’ department recently, interviewing for the school’s coordinator role working under the school lead Martin Bradshaw. Nathan was successful and now organises the entire coaching workforce for schools alongside Martin. He is responsible for maintaining and building relationships with schools across the five boroughs of west London that the Trust works in.

Highlighting some of the main benefits of working within the Trust, Nathan said: “Having the opportunity to work with different groups of participants has really made this job fulfilling. Working within the Trust is almost like working within a family as help is never to far away and internal progression is prioritised.”

Find out how you can start your journey with the Trust by visiting brentfordfccst.com/get-involved/jobs/.