Zoey Shaw- Coach of the Year

Glossop North End AFC Juniors are delighted to announce that Zoey Shaw has been awarded Manager/Coach of the Year in the 2015 High Peak Sports Awards.

Zoey plays for Glossop North End Ladies team and in August 2014 was approached to assist Natalie Mills in coaching our new Under 9 Girls team.

Almost instantly it became apparent of the array of skills that she possesses, in coaching the girls, many of whom had never played football before. Despite losing the first few games, she remained positive, encouraging and gave out praise, all 100% of the time.

Her training sessions are focused on fun, matching the Club’s ethos and its refreshing (and amusing) to see and hear the girls regularly using song and dance to develop their footballing skills. Zoe’s training methods regularly bring the other training sessions taking place elsewhere at the Glossopdale ATP facility, to a standstill.

Zoey’s coaching has also been recognised by parents. Feedback is superb; she is so patient with the girls, her sessions are thoroughly enjoyable and they are grateful for the role she has played in improving the children’s confidence.

Indeed a number of the Club’s coaches have daughters in the team and it is interesting how they have also adapted their own training sessions and methods to reflect how Zoey coaches and supports the girls. She has also run training sessions for some of our other age groups and provided recommendations to other coaches. A great mentor throughout the Club.

Whilst results are irrelevant, the positive progress seen in the girls ability has seen them notch up a significant amount of wins, in the latter part of the season and early part of this season. The girls’ development is however the over-riding focus here and it is great to watch their improvement, week on week.

Zoey, along with Leanne Pace, co-ordinates the High Peak School & Sport Partnership Under 11 mixed football team. She was instrumental in selecting the players during the trials process and has committed to coach the squad this coming season.

Both Zoey and Leanne also run the ‘Girls Development Centre’ held at Glossopdale’s ATP every Wednesday evening. The sessions are aimed at young girls and provides many with their first introduction to football. Feedback from parents are that the build up to the sessions begins as soon as their daughters come out of school each Wednesday, with huge excitement and anticipation, ahead of the 6pm start. This is as a result of the enjoyable, no pressure, fun sessions that are provided.

This Centre has become an integral part of the Club’s strategy to regularly form new girls’ teams over the next few seasons.

On a personal development aspect, Zoey undertook and passed the FA Youth Module Two Award in May 2015 and has been nominated to take her FA Youth Module Three Award and UEFA ‘B’ qualification in 2016.

Zoey is a great ambassador for girl and ladies football in the High Peak area and not just for Glossop Juniors. She has an infectious personality which brings out the best in the girls. She is a huge positive role model within the Club for all our young players and coaches alike.

Updated 21:55 - 3 Sep 2019 by Ben Mills