English coaches visit Pembroke Nursery for seminar, instructional meetings

Harry Watling and James J. Mullane, who are UEFA qualified English coaches forming part of the Milwall FC Academy, visited Malta for a second time to conduct a seminar for coaches and instructional meetings following an invitation by the Pembroke Athleta Football Nursery.

Watling and Mullane also run their own academy named ‘APD’ (Advance Player Development) specialising in preparing players to bridge the gap between grassroots and academy players. In just one year, have opened two other ‘APD’ academies at Bromley, Dulwich and Eltham working closely with the Chelsea F.C. Academy and other academies close to their base.

In Malta, the two coaches conducted a football education seminar through Pembroke Athleta Football Nursery. The seminar was held at the Corinthia San Gorg Hotel who also kindly sponsored the foreign coaches’ accommodation during their stay.

MFA Senior Vice-President Ludovico Micallef addressed the seminar which also featured a presentation by the nursery head coach Philip Pisani and a presentation on First Aid by Pierre Gatt – a qualified First Aid instructor who ably demonstrated to the participants what one must do in case of emergencies.

The English coaches then explained the way they work in their academies particularly at the ‘APD’ and gave information on the practical sessions to be conducted.

The first instructional meeting for the coaches was conducted at the Pembroke Athleta grounds with the participation of the Pembroke Athleta Football Nursery boys.

Their programme included a further two other instructional meetings utilising groups from the nursery, a visit to Valletta with the nursery directors. The two coaches were then the guests at a reception held at the Melting Pot Restaurant at the club’s premises.

The nursery thanks the Corinthia San Gorg group particularly managing director Stuart Chappell for their generous sponsorship of the English coaches’ stay and for offering the use of the conference room facilities. The nursery also thanks coaches Harry Watling and James J. Mullane and all the participants in the seminar and instructional meetings.