James Beeston has wasted no time in enhancing his coaching credentials by enrolling on the UEFA B qualification after successfully passing the L2 last season as a first year Apprentice.
The Port Vale youngster completed the L2 as part of his ASE programme and decided to step it up a notch by enrolling on the PFA taught UEFA B course at WBA during the summer.
The youngster who hails from Newcastle Under Lyme, has subsequently been gaining some practical experience on familiar ground at his Club’s Centre of Excellence a place that he has been associated with since he joined the Club as a six year old primary school student.
Currently injured, Beeston is enjoying the experience of moving up to the Level 3 course and coupling it with a role at the Centre. He says;
“I’m having a great time working at the Centre of Excellence, obviously this experience is vital to me in that it will improve me as a coach. Experience is vital, as is the knowledge gained from your time out on the pitch. I’m only 18 so I’d have never have thought that I’d be actually be in a position where I’d be delivering team talks or helping players improve but I have to say everything about this been fantastic.”
Currently a second year Apprentice, Beeston believes his coaching experience will serve him well in future years, however, he light-heartedly suggests that he hopes not to be dealing with senior players anytime soon;
“Obviously as a 2nd year I just want to try and impress the Manager and earn myself a contract come the end of the season – so in respect of my coaching I’ll be happy if I’m only dealing with schoolboys for many years to come.”
