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The Official Football List 2024 recognises influential Black figures making a positive impact in football and society.

CX Founder Darren Smith has been awarded the Practitioner of the Year category for his contributions at UCFB, Coaching Xchange, and as an FA Coach developer, assisting thousands of coaches over the past 17 years.

The award ceremony was held on Thursday, April 24, at the Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal FC.

The Football Black List was established in 2008 by Leon Mann MBE and Rodney Hinds. This widely respected initiative highlights leaders of African and Caribbean heritage working and volunteering across all football disciplines.

According to the Black Footballers,

Despite their significant contribution on the pitch, the Black community faces underrepresentation in various other areas of football. The Football Black List aims to highlight Black individuals leading the way and inspiring the next generation, while also acknowledging players who positively utilise their platform through their off-field endeavours.

The list is independently voted on by a panel of experts from the football industry and the Black community based on nominations submitted by the general public.

The panel consisted of representatives from the Premier League, Football Association, English Football League (EFL), League Managers Association, Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), Premier League Match Officials’ Association (PGMOL), Kick It Out, FARE, Black Community Organisations (BCOMS), and Black community leaders.

The list encompasses individuals from eight categories:

• Administration
• Coaching and Management
• Commercial
• Community and Grassroots
• LGBTQIA+
• Media
• Players
• Practitioners

CX Founder Darren Smith expressed, “I am profoundly honoured to be nominated for this award alongside such exceptional talent. It is gratifying to witness the recognition accorded to numerous esteemed individuals from both the male and female football spheres.”

Nomination info:

Darren is the Associate Dean at a university (UCFB), one of the few Black staff members in such a senior role in the country. He leads three Coaching and Management degrees and secured the inclusion of a UEFA C qualification for all students, part of a national pilot scheme. Darren also tutors FA courses and has a strong track record of developing players and coaches from underrepresented groups, including launching a female coach development group. Through his initiative, Coaching Xchange, Darren has supported coaches across the UK, hosting sold-out conferences for over 400 coaches. He has provided discounted tickets and subsidies to make learning accessible to underrepresented communities. Darren has four more conferences planned this season, with over 400 spaces available, supporting coaches and managers both in-person and online.

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My name is Chelsea Pope and my journey started at the age of 6, in my hometown in Cornwall. There weren’t any girls teams in Cornwall when I first started playing football, so I had to play with all the boys. I was faced with many challenges; being told I couldn’t play football because I was a girl, being judged and losing all my confidence. My biggest role model in life is my Mum, she decided to gain her coaching qualification and help setup a girls football league in Cornwall, so that my sister and I could play with other girls and enjoy our football again. At one point, she was superhuman and managing four different girls teams at our local club, alongside her fulltime job. This is where my coaching journey began. I was inspired by my mum and wanted to help her, so I started as her assistant at age 13, before I was old enough to gain my qualifications and become a head coach. I’ve known from a very young age that I love helping people- I saw the positive impact my mum had on girls in Cornwall and wanted to do the same. That little girl from Cornwall had a dream to be a professional football coach and in 2022, she decided to chase those dreams and make the big move to London. The rest is history!

Moving to London to study Football Coaching and Management at UCFB Wembley has been the best decision I have ever made. I started university as an ambitious individual with a dream but was shy and lacking confidence. The lecturers, my friends and everyone at UCFB, gave me a voice and from there, the growth has been incredible. I have built so much confidence that has enabled me to achieve things little Chelsea would not believe! During my time at UCFB, I have coached football for Bloomsbury, Chelsea FC Foundation and even gained my first experience of coaching in a professional environment, at Tottenham Hotspur Women’s Academy. I achieved all this before the age of 20 and that, I struggle to believe. The last 3 years have been a whirlwind, but the best years of my life. I am now 20, currently in my final year at UCFB and have just started my UEFA B. I have achieved more than I could have ever dreamt of and I’m still young and growing! This is proof that if you have a dream and you work hard, anything is possible. 

This brings me onto my ‘why’ and one of my additional roles. Being a female coach has never been easy. In Cornwall, I was one of very few and I often wondered if my dream was silly. I didn’t know how I was ever going to have a career as a football coach, because I couldn’t see many females in those roles. This is where my ‘why’ comes in. I’ve always wanted to be a role model, to inspire others and have a positive impact on people. This year, I am the president of the Female Coaches Society and am on a mission to empower women and show them that football is a place for them. I want to change the narrative; you can be a female and have a successful career in football. Despite coaching being my biggest passion, I have never coached for me. I coach for the little girls that are told they can’t play football because of their gender, I coach for all the females that have a dream of one day being the next Emma Hayes, I coach to change the future of football and the future of people’s lives. Throughout the last few years, I have worked so hard to try and change the narrative. I’ve delivered inspirational talks, organised and hosted events, delivered keynote speeches, and worked many hours behind the scenes, to try and be that role model that when growing up, other than my mum, I didn’t have. 

I have achieved so many incredible things and sometimes I don’t slow down to recognise just how far I’ve come. Now, I can say that the very shy and quiet 10-year-old Chelsea with her big dream, would be so very proud of the person that I am now, all I have achieved, the person I am yet to become, and the future ahead of me. My journey is only just beginning and so can yours! The biggest thing I have learnt is to take every opportunity that comes your way and never be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. You never know what doors could open! I have had so many amazing experiences and opportunities, that all started with hard work and a yes. If you’re scared, do it with fear. I was terrified of moving to London away from my family, but I had a dream and I wasn’t going to let anything stop me from trying to achieve my goals. Always remember, you’re there for a reason and you’ve earnt your place. Ignore the judgements, overcome the obstacles and work hard. I believe if you see it, you can be it. I want people to see me, to see that they can achieve their dreams, and to believe in themselves. It all starts with you. If you be yourself and work hard, anything is possible. 

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We visited Silver Jubilee Park to speak with the inaugural cohort of students who completed the Coach Learning Programme (CLP). This programme was integrated into the first year of their Coaching Degree course at UCFB Wembley. The students’ unanimous verdict: the CLP provided an immersive learning journey, offering a comprehensive insight into the art of great coaching.

The rain at Silver Jubilee Park came down in torrents. At times it felt Biblical. And while we wouldn’t be so presumptive as to infer that the learning in the CLP is also heaven-sent, the first group of learners to complete UK Coaching’s innovative and interactive programme certainly have faith in it.  Their testimonials in our video case study speak volumes.

Last academic year, Coaching Degree students from UCFB Wembley earned their CLP Certificate, which formed a core part of their 1st4sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching qualification.

Now, as the new academic year begins, these students faced a new challenge: planning and conducting a coaching session for the incoming first-year students.

This task was designed to showcase the skills and knowledge they had acquired through the CLP.

The results were nothing short of impressive.

Their stories, captured below, reveal a transformative experience that underscores the profound impact and value of the six modules comprising the CLP – the first programme of its kind in the sector.

It’s immersive and practical approach has clearly paid off, as evidenced by the students’ ability to deliver engaging and impactful coaching sessions.

“Just a year ago, there is no way on earth these students would have had the confidence to lead such a session,”

Darren Smith - Founder and Director of Coaching XChange Ltd

As a licensed partner of UK Coaching – and a 1st4sport approved centre – Coaching XChange agreed to be CLP pioneers as the first organisation to deliver the programme to learners.

A select group of students from UCFB Wembley were chosen to embark on this new unique learning pathway as part of the industry-recognised Level 2 qualification, which on completion allows coaches to coach independently.

The evidence of their transformation underscores the CLP’s effectiveness in cultivating confident, competent coaches; an invaluable tool in shaping the next generation of coaches.

From classroom to pitch: Bringing coaching theory to life

The workshops that Darren and his team of tutors delivered for the CLP combined face-to-face and interactive activities, which were then brought to life on the pitch and in the sports hall.

“This approach helped us cover the technical and tactical aspects while linking back to the CLP workshops,” says Darren.

“It effectively taught students about the role of the coach and helped them develop their own ideas and philosophy. I would say the CLP advanced their learning considerably.

“I particularly like the fact it offers a continuous learning approach. It enables reflection on their journey and the environments they work in. The support from tutors, workshops, and online tools ensures they can practice, reflect, and review effectively.”

Technical specifications and benefits of the CLP

The CLP Certificate is a comprehensive package that certifies learners have met the industry-recognised CIMSPA Coach Standard, facilitating their successful entry into the coaching profession.

The programme allows organisations – such as National Governing Bodies, universities or colleges – to concentrate on delivering the practical elements and core technical and tactical modules, saving them both time and money in developing a Level 2 coaching qualification curriculum.

Its robustness ensures that all foundational aspects are covered, providing the essential ‘nuts and bolts’ while allowing the delivering organisation to add the technical and tactical components.

This hybrid learning model features handpicked, bespoke content that can be easily tailored to fit any sport, environment, and coaching style.

Designed for flexibility, the CLP enables coaches to learn at their own time, place, and pace, ensuring no stone is left unturned in their development.

This approach not only saves on development costs but also guarantees that students are fully equipped to apply their coaching skills practically and effectively in the industry.

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That’s a lot of goals.

Watching one season can offer a good picture of goalscoring trends, but they might be specific to that season. For example, the cutback as an assisting method decreased by a 1/3 in the 22/23 season before returning to the previous level in 23/24. Seasonal trends could be just that. Seasonal. A moment in time.

However, there are some trends that have been consistent across 3 seasons of Premier League football. Thankfully for you, I’ve analysed all 3401 goals so that you don’t have to.

Here are some headlines:

Finish between the posts

Across the last 3 seasons 47% of all open play goals were scored in zones 1 and 3 (Figure 1). Directly between the posts and inside the penalty box. Pure goal scorers can sense when the chance for a goal is about to be created and know that the ball is likely to land between the posts. How do they get there? Someone like Erling Haaland sprints to stay ahead of the ball until he ends up between the posts. 48% of his goals in the last 2 PL seasons have been in zones 1 and 3.

The secondary areas for goal scoring are in the corner box. Zones 5R (16%) and 5L (15%) offer 31% of goals. This could align with the rise of the inverted winger.

It seems obvious, but are you coaching your players where goals are scored?

Zones 1, 3, 5R and 5L are 7% of the total pitch space but account for 78% of all goals. So, encourage plenty of shots from these areas.

Finish quickly – Touches & Time

61% of all open play goals in the last 3 seasons have been scored off 1 touch. When you take into account set pieces, it’s nearer 80%. Goals off one or two touches made up 79% of all open play goals.

If you look at the percentage of goals scored with each touch, it demonstrates how the more touches you take, the less likely you are to score (Table 1).

However, if you need to take extra touches, and often you do, the speed of those touches counts. Erling Haaland averaged 0.55 seconds per touch and shot last season. The goal scorers in 23/24 averaged 1.8 seconds of possession per goal, however the most frequent length of time in possession before scoring was less than 1 second.

I hasten to add, I am not suggesting that we coach all players to play off 1 touch or minimal time in possession everywhere and all the time. This is purely the facts about goalscoring over the last 3 seasons in the PL. A 16-year-old may not be able to position their body to finish off 1 touch consistently, so may need more touches whilst they are coached about their body position. Likewise, a 12-year-old might not be able to receive and release a shot in 1.8 seconds.

We shouldn’t use this information as KPIs to measure young players, instead we should use it to inform our sessions and to show our players the level of performance and execution they aspire to.

Master your instep

The instep is used in 50% of all assists and 38% of all finishes. That’s 42% of all actions leading directly to a goal. We should be developing players to have full mastery of all surfaces of their feet, but there’s no school like the old school.

80% of through balls use the instep. 70% of all crosses that lead to a goal use the instep. There are certain situations where your go to technique needs to utilize your instep. This is inescapable.

Likewise with finishing. If we analyse penalties, we see that 85% of them have been scored with the instep.

Aim low

Alisson Becker is 1.93m tall, Ederson is 1.88m. That’s 6-foot 3 inches and 6-foot 1 inch in old money. Their jump and reaction times, not to mention their wingspan, means they can cover almost every inch of the goal. However, when faced with a low shot a GK doesn’t dive down, they dive out and to the side or they drop their legs and gravity pulls them down.

So, a low shot can negate height and jumping ability. Therefore, it makes sense that 61% of all open play goals scored entered the goal in the bottom third. Back to our penalty analysis, and goals from this dead ball scenario go in the bottom third 57% of the time.

Coaching is full of old clichés and a favourite of shooting pracites is to ‘hit the bottom corners’. This (just about) holds true, with bottom left (24%) and bottom right (21%) the most popular destinations for the ball. Closely followed by bottom centre at 16%. Interestingly, the other 6 areas of the goal have a pretty even spread of 7% and 8%.

Erling Haaland, the best and most ruthless finisher in world football currently, hit the bottom third of the goal with 60% of all of his PL goals.

Be alive to rebounds and regains

This statistic is remarkable because it was exactly the same across all 3 seasons. In 21/22 there were 860 open play goals. In 22/23 there were 880. In 23/24 there were 998. Every single one of these seasons 22% of open play goals did not have an assist.

Last season I measured the total length of goal scoring attacks (average 13.5 seconds) and the total amount of passes in goal scoring attacks (average 4). As you’d guess, the most frequent length of attack was less than 1 second, just enough time to get a first time shot off. And the most frequent quantity of passes was 0.

Following in for rebounds, or sweaty goals, is vital. If we’re coaching finishers to be in between the posts, prepared to finish off minimal touches and time and to aim low when they do so, we have to be coaching other players to be following in for the rebounds. 

Alisson Becker has averaged a save percentage of 76% over his club career, whilst Ederson has 72%. The best GKs and the worst GKs will make plenty of saves, so being alert to the rebound is an absolute must. Especially when the most consistent statistic of the last 3 years was that 22% of goals have had no assist.

A final thought…

There’s a reason that most goal of the season compilations won’t include a one touch instep finish from a rebound that is scored inside the 6-yard box and goes low in the goal. Nor do they include 14 second, 4 pass combinations and a finish from a cross. They are common. They occur too frequently.

What they do include is screamers from outside the box, with 7 opposition players between the finisher and the goal or a run and dribble that twists and turns before a chipped finish into the top corner. We cherish the things that we do not see often, the rarer something is the more it is celebrated.

My point is this:

All of these goals are scored and all of them are valuable.

None of the information above should lead us towards rules and laws for goalscoring that we embed into our players. However, the above information has happened for 3 seasons. It cannot just be a seasonal flourish. The sample size is too large, and the numbers are too consistent.

We as coaches need to know the facts of goalscoring and we should ensure we design training scenarios that recreate what actually occurs in the game.

We can then ask our players: Do you want to be a great goalscorer? Or a scorer of great goals?

Whatever their answer, it’s a great answer.

Story by: Dominic Haynes

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