UP CLOSE: The Kenilworth coaching company which has created a new footballing community
The man behind a Kenilworth football coaching company says he is "incredibly proud" of what he has achieved, after a decade of working with youngsters in the town.
DF Sports Coaching was first launched by Danny Fagan in 2015 as he saw a gap in the local market to provide dedicated sessions for young children in Kenilworth.
Starting out with one-to-one coaching, DF now brings hundreds of youngsters to the new Kenilworth School site every Saturday morning, provides teams to football clubs across the area and runs incredibly popular holiday camps throughout the year.
We sat down with Danny to find out more about DF Sports Coaching, and the secrets to his success.
Early Beginnings
It was a sliding doors moment that actually saw Danny leave his army training due to administration error, before pursuing a new career in coaching.
"Everything changed very quickly for me," he told Nub News.
"I ended up the day after going through a trial at Stratford Town, and got onto a scheme in partnership with Coventry City, where you did your coaching qualifications and played as well.
"From there, I did more coaching, and then at 17, I joined a local coaching club in Leamington and did some work for Coventry City, I then started DF Sports full time in Kenilworth in 2015."
Having played for Saturday league teams in Coventry from an early age, Danny said he had to make the "tough choice" to stop playing to focus fully on his coaching.
Starting out with his solo sessions in Kenilworth, Danny's coaching in Kenilworth quickly took off, seeing him booked out for a whole year doing three or four sessions every evening.
That was when he decided to take the leap to go full time, launching DF renting a 'small patch of mud' at the old Kenilworth School site, and launching group sessions.
"We had maybe eight footballs and a couple of kids," he continued.
"It was just my mate helping me out really, to who I owe a lot of gratitude."
Growing Quickly
The sessions at Kenilworth School quickly took off, with more and more kids - aged between two and 12 - coming along.
The company started to grow quickly, with local clubs approaching DF to ask if they would create teams for them as they were struggling to get numbers.
Now, DF provides seven complete teams to local clubs including Kenilworth Wardens and Kenilworth Town on a yearly basis, whilst also filling teams throughout the year as well, for the local community.
"It was really nice at the recent Wardens festival we had 31 former DF teams in the tournament," Danny explained.
"Getting to see some of them now age 16+, it really does feel like yesterday when they were starting at DF, taking their first kicks with us.
"It's nice to see they're still in those same teams that we created at df sports, and still loving their football, which is the main thing.
"That's one of the things we are most proud of, the children who graduate from DF, and then continue to use the life skills learnt, to develop and grow into fantastic young adults."
Fun Comes First
One of the main selling points of DF sports is that it is all about fun, and making sure the kids enjoy themselves.
Danny and his coaches want to make sure the sessions are varied each week, and the groups are kept smaller to make sure each child gets a lot of time with their coach.
"Something we implemented at the old Kenilworth School was parents and spectators not allowed on the pitch at all," he added.
"If you were to try another session somewhere else, many times you will witness parents on the touchline and they can't help but tell their kids what to do, limiting their decision making and development.
"If you come to a DF session, the parents buy into our values and ethos, and are there to support and encourage their child.
"Parents can then just enjoy watching their kids instead of shouting at the kids.
"It's much better that way, as the kids learn to fall in love with football, whilst they create new friendships."
Keeping sessions affordable is also important to Danny who has capped the prices for a while.
The fees are among the cheapest in the area, great value for money, and free sessions are offered to new members looking to try it out for the first time.
Lots To Offer
Danny and his team have a proven programme here in Kenilworth, as well as popular football camps that regularly attract youngsters from all over Warwickshire.
Meanwhile throughout the week the coaches also go into local nurseries and primary schools to run classes, PE lessons and after school football - most sessions being fully booked for the year.
Some of the kids have also been given the chance to get their coaching qualifications through DF, and the company has helped around 30 teenagers achieve their Duke of Edinburgh awards - some even going on to work alongside Danny at the company.
DF also does charity events for different causes throughout the year, having organised adult football tournaments, skydives, community fundraisers and more.
A Christmas bash a few years ago raised huge amounts of money to buy presents for parents struggling and children in need in the local area.
The company has also donated equipment to theKenilworthCentre and helped build a football pitch in Africa, as well as sports equipment for children in Africa.
Secrets to Success
With nearly 400 five-star reviews on Google and social media, waiting lists for sessions, and multiple sold-out holiday camps, DF's success is indisputable.
And while the award-winning company continues to grow, Danny says he will remain as hands on as ever.
"I've seen a lot of coaching companies, start good but then after a few years get either lazy or greedy, and forget about why they started" he said.
"I've always made sure, even now, I'm involved every single day, seven days a week.
"I'm a self-confessed workaholic, but when you see the smiles on the children's faces, and what we are building in Kenilworth for years to come, it's all worth it."
Asked what his secret to success is, Danny cited hard work, keeping to his values, close family and friends alongside the support of his "excellent" team of hardworking coaches over the years, and putting fun first for the kids.
And reflecting back on a decade in Kenilworth, he said: "We've helped create a whole football community here in Kenilworth for everyone to be part of, alongside our DF sessions and several partnerships with the local clubs"
"When you sit back and think about it all, it's bizarre, that a small idea, scribbled on a napkin in costa, has now come to fruition, creating players, teams, role models, employment and a place where children and parents of Kenilworth can connect, I'm excited for what's next, in the 10 years ahead."
To find out more about DF Sports Coaching, head to the website here.
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