I am in Dublin this week participating completing the last session of the UEFA Pro Licence. The Pro Licence is the highest award for Coaching in Europe. It is obviously a prestigious award and even more so because it is the first one undertaken by the FAI.

I have been a qualified Coach since the early 80's. At that time there was a serious distrust among the ranks of professional footballers who felt that those conducting the coaching courses for the English Football Association had no real knowledge of the professional game. To be fair they were partly right.

Many of the instructers came from a teaching background which was understandable because the organisational skills to formulate course work was second nature to this kind of people and allied to this was the fact that many teachers taught the game in schools and like school teachers everywhere, they were very receptive to gaining extra qualifications and indeed even becoming tutors in this area. But too many old time pro. footballlers would have harboured bad memories of their schooldays and a number of their teachers.

Psychological barrier

But gradually over time this psychological barrier was dismantled and Coaching Courses became acceptable and enjoyable to those with the interest to contemplate progressing into coaching or management after retirement. Fast forward to today and all Coaching Courses are conducted under the auspices of UEFA by the parent Association in the relevent country. But one can participate in such courses in any country across the continent should the desire be there.

For example, on this course, which incidentally has taken 12 months to contemplate, we have a Head Coach from the top club in Latvia and a Coach from the Chelsea Academy in London. The coincidence here was the fact that I visited the new Chelsea Training Ground in Cobham four weeks ago as part of the course itself because one of the main requirements was a visit to a foreign club. Now this is not an unusual occurence in pro. football because most clubs are receptive to hosting visitors from other countries just as a matter of courtesy.

But I was fortunate to be afforded the opportunity, accompanied by Brian Kerr, Packie Bonner and Paul Doolin, to visit the almost brand spanking new Training Ground in the beautiful Surrey countryside. I must admit it was amazing. The 140 acre site and the state of the art main building cost a large fortune.

You would not believe it if I told you but I will anyway; £50 million. There are 30 football pitches with 6 of them up to Premiership standard each on the exact dimensions of the pitch at Stamford Bridge. The Chelsea Academy is also housed within the grounds and young players from the ages 9 to 18 receive expert coaching here.