A senior coach at Reading FC’s official charity is raising money to fund a free place on a football coaching qualification pathway for a young person unable to afford the cost.
Phil Stafford, a qualified teacher and long-serving member of staff at Reading FC Community Trust, has launched a fundraiser with a £200 target. The sum would cover the FA Introduction to Coaching Football course, as well as Emergency First Aid and Safeguarding Children qualifications, the minimum requirements for employment at the Trust, along with his half marathon entry fee.
Stafford, who has worked at the Trust for a decade and now serves as College Programme Lead, recently achieved a personal best of one hour 57 minutes and 40 seconds at the Wokingham Half Marathon. He also completed the Thames Pathway Ultra Marathon last year.
However, he said the motivation behind the campaign extends beyond running.
“Reading FC Community Trust is a registered charity, and our mission is to use the power of football to change lives,” Stafford said. “Sometimes the difference between a young person starting a career in sport and missing out entirely comes down to £160. That’s not a barrier that should exist, and this fundraiser is my small attempt to remove it.”
The qualifications funded through the campaign are required for aspiring coaches to gain paid roles in community football settings. Without them, candidates cannot be employed, regardless of experience or interest.
“This cause is close to my heart,” Stafford added. “I’ve spent ten years watching young people light up when they get their first coaching opportunity. I’ve also seen what happens when that door stays closed simply because of money. Every pound donated here doesn’t just pay for a qualification — it potentially starts a career.”
Any funds raised beyond the initial £200 target will be used to support additional young people through the same qualification pathway, according to the Trust.
The fundraising page is available online via JustGiving.
