"There's things I've learnt today that have changed my way of thinking, my own philosophy."
For former Walsall and Rotherham forward Darren Byfield, visiting Southampton's training ground to see how the club develops its talent will have a lasting impact.
Byfield was one of a number of participants in the Premier League's Professional Player to Coach Scheme who joined coaches from the Premier League's Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme at the Staplewood event to gain valuable insight to help their own development.
The coaches from the schemes watched a variety of training sessions from Under-9s up to Under-23 level before having the opportunity to quiz Saints’ Academy coaches.
Iffy Onuora, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the Premier League, says the event aims to give the coaches an idea of the philosophy that a Premier League club have around their coaching approach.
Both the Professional Player to Coach Scheme (PPCS) and Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme (CIDS) seek to support the Premier League's aim to improve diversity and coaching pathways for black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups in football, as laid out in its No Room for Racism Action Plan and Elite Coaching Plan.
Share this: