'Coaches Corner' is a new initiative at the club brought in by the club Chairman, Aaron Smith. This initiative will shine a spotlight on a different coach at the club every week and give readers an insight into who they are away from the pitch and their coaching journeys.

We feel at the club it is so important to recognise the hard work of our volunteers and we hope you enjoy reading our first 'Coaches Corner'.

Coaches corner: Henry Stone

What made you want to become a coach?

Coaching is something very personal to me and always will be. When I left school, I became a scholar at Eastleigh Football club with the dream of becoming a full-time professional football player. I had some great memories there and made some lifelong friends. However, I wasn’t quite good enough to make the cut and gained a nasty injury. After getting cut by multiple teams over the years and countless unsuccessful trials, I decided to stop chasing the dream and shift my focus towards coaching.

I had been dropping in and out of coaching from the age of 16. I started off with volunteering at kid’s clubs, holiday camps and similar things. When I first started as a scholar, I also got offered a part time coaching job. I was 18 at the time and was making next to no money, so I took it. My parents had to drive me to and from my work hours, but I absolutely loved it. At that time as well, my playing career was becoming more and more serious and less fun. When I got my injury and my mental health spiralled, I thought to myself “is my mental health really worth all of this?”. The answer was no without question. I needed a complete reshuffle in my life and needed to put my time and effort into something that I really cared about - coaching people.

What’s your favourite parts about being a coach?

I love being in a position that allows me to help people get the best out of themselves in football or in life. I live by the philosophy of “Be the coach you wanted when you were a kid”.

Although I struggle socially, coaching/teaching has helped me develop my confidence and social skills. Contrary to belief, I was a very quiet kid at school and could never read in front of a class. Fast forward 2/3 years after school, I’m delivering a PE lesson to 40/50 children. It’s a fantastic feeling.

When talking specifically about football coaching. I love the technical and tactical side of it. I love coaching minute details as well as problem solving during a match. It gives me a real ‘buzz’.

What team do you coach?

I currently coach the U’15 reds. I’ve been coaching them since they were U11’s. It’s been a real journey on and off the pitch. It’s safe to say I feel like a bit of furniture at the club now!

Why did you want to coach at Sirens?

When I was completing my level 2 coaching badge in 2019, I needed a team to help me complete the qualification. I got in touch with an old friend, Wai Wann, to see if she could help and I’ve been at Sirens ever since.
Wai got me involved originally as a goalkeeper coach in 2019. When the time for my coaching assessment came round, I jumped in with the U11’s (the team I still coach) and what was meant to be a few sessions has now turned into 4/5 years!

My girls were incredibly coachable and showed a passion for learning. I could see potential in all of them. I was absolutely hooked on girls’ football and taking my team as far as they could go. The goal was and has always been the long-term development of people before players. We’ve stayed true to that philosophy, and I am so glad we have done. We’ve developed excellent players but helped nurture a group of awesome young women.

How has the season gone so far for yourself and the team?

At this point of the season, on paper it’s the best we’ve ever performed. We’re sat top of the league and just got knocked out in the semi-finals of the league trophy. For the 5th season running we’ve managed to retain a large portion of players too which is always hard in grassroots football. The girls seem to always turn up to training with a smile and leave with a smile, so I consider that success in my eyes. No result is more important than that to me.

What are your aspirations for the team and Sirens as a whole?

As mentioned earlier, it’s all about long term development. Whenever it may be that I am not coaching my team anymore, I just want to see as many of them as possible continue to love the game and play at a level where they enjoy it. It would be amazing if just 2/3 of them invite me to come watch them play for another team or any trials that they have. Even if they don’t play football, when they’re old enough, it’d be lovely to catch up with any of the girls and their parents over a coffee. It’s a team of people I truly care about and hope to stay in touch with over the years.

Regarding the club as a whole, there are some good coaches I’d love to see continue to master their craft.

Scott is doing excellent things for everyone. He works tirelessly and I hope that he and his girls reap the rewards from it.

Rob Spratters is doing very well too. Seeing his progression as a coach and more importantly as a person, has been heart-warming.

Alex Weeks and Danny have the toughest challenge of them all by coaching the oldest team. The dropout rate at the age group is high, so to keep their girls on board is a great achievement.

The new blood in the U13’s is great to see too. Seeing Ian push himself coaching wise has been refreshing. Not many people in his position are so open to learning and feedback.

Stu, Hannah, Michelle, and Dicky always look like they’re having a good time as well as their girls. Hats off to Stu for all the work behind the scenes he does, also.

Dan and Luke have also done an unreal job taking on the youngest team. Never an easy job but it’s great to see the youngest have so much fun in their training.

I really hope the seniors keep moving forward and working hard. They’ve got a good manager as well as a superb back-room staff. Riggers, Rudgey and Nathan to name a few. I’d like to spend a bit more time watching the seniors before the end of the season to see the great progress they’ve made.

What is your life like away from coaching?

Life has never been busier away from football. Endless university assignments and assessments. Living away from home for the first time has been a new dynamic. Lots of miles on the road to chase the dream and spend time with loved ones. Any spare time I do have is spent watching live football, hanging out with mates or more often than not, relaxing by myself watching movies or a series!

Questions asked by media officer Shea Lucas