3. Shape your own experience

Over the years, I felt it was important to gain experience in all of the areas that interested me in football and the wider sports industry as I shaped my career. I wanted to learn as much as possible about football and sport to get a solid understanding of all the different factors that can lead to high performance. I gained a lot of experience in various parts of the industry working with some excellent professionals.

Like most, I started by playing football as a kid and was fortunate to play from childhood into my mid-twenties. I finished up in the Scottish lower leagues at a time when playing was becoming painful for me after years of chronic injury. Coaching was becoming more of an interest. I understood the game from a player’s perspective, I can see the game through the eyes of a player.

I went through a lot of tough times playing the game and that experience has been useful in the coaching roles I’ve had over the past two decades. Intuitively knowing when people need support or guidance to get through tough challenges is part of leadership, coaching and management. Much of that intuition comes from my personal experiences.

I also understand the dynamics of a dressing room, from the influence experienced pros can have, the issues facing players coming to the end of their careers, the guidance that’s required for younger players who are learning from the environment every day, the conflicts that can arise and the bonds that can be formed.

While still playing in my early twenties I completed a university education and then when I stopped playing, I enjoyed a few years working in senior sports development positions. I managed a range of people and projects in local government and educational environments. These roles taught me how to deal with senior management teams, boardrooms and politicians. I combined those full-time jobs with coaching part-time at clubs.

I had a three-year spell working for the Scottish FA as a senior football development officer and coach education tutor, learning from many experienced coaches and managers. This was invaluable experience at a relatively young age. To date, I’ve coached at every possible level from community coaching, academy coaching, coaching professional teams in the men’s and women’s games and working domestically as well as overseas.

Rangers were the first club to give me an opportunity as a coach and I will be eternally grateful to those who gave me that opportunity to learn. I also worked with Livingston, St Mirren and Partick Thistle, learning from some great people and working with some very talented players. I was developing my skills and experience. I would spend my “free time” coaching abroad and undertaking club study visits.

I built a network and gained experience that helped me grow both professionally and personally. Continued growth and development: these are principles I still have and I will always strive to be better at what I do.

On reflection, I spent all of my twenties playing, studying, working, coaching. It was seven days a week and a lot of hard work but I enjoyed every minute. I spent my thirties in Scotland progressing back into football on a full-time basis.

In 2013, I was asked by Gerry Britton — who is now the club’s Chief Executive — to help develop a new youth academy for Partick Thistle. My role evolved over years and in 2018/19, I was promoted to Academy Director. I covered first-team opposition analysis for five years in the Scottish Premiership and I had two spells involved in first-team caretaker management roles in the Scottish Championship. All before my 39th birthday.

Like many aspiring coaches, I felt sometimes people in Scotland only saw a small part of your career and your years of commitment. I know some back home only see me as a youth coach, some see me as their old team-mate, some see me as their old boss.

For me, years of hard work, dedication, overcoming setbacks, and handling adversity have helped to shape me into who I’ve become today. Youth coaching has been a part of my journey, but it’s not who I am.

That’s my advice to people now. Become really rounded with as much experience as you can possibly gain, even if others don’t always see it or respect you for it.

4. Make knowledge and expertise your main strength

If you have played your sport, can coach on the field, manage people off it, design and lead programmes, understand and utilise technology, know how to engage with various partners, understand the various media platforms… then you might just fit in with the direction that modern football is going!

If you can’t do any of the above at the moment, try to learn fast. If you think just because you played the game, you will be entitled to a job and have people’s instant respect as a coach, there is a chance you will fail. If you get a qualification without gaining practical experience, you’ll fail. If you gain experience as a coach but don’t update your coach education, you’ll fail to get a job due to club licensing requirements.

You must work at your personal development every day if you want to forge a long-term career in sport. Make knowledge and experience your main strength as you develop your career. Having a wide range of experience is also important for those wishing to work abroad for another reason, as one of the most difficult hurdles now is obtaining a work visa.

The simple rule now is the more experience and success you have had in the sport, the easier it will be to get the authorisation you need. You must demonstrate that your knowledge and experience will add value that cannot be provided by those currently working in the environment you plan to go to. Respect the fact that you are coming into an environment that may be very different to your home country.

In my time here in the USA, I have tried to be respectful of all the people, the structures, and the cultures I encounter. I’ve learned a lot from the diversity of the people I work with. I speak daily to coaches from North America, South America and Europe.

It’s the same with players and their families. I work with a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds. They all see the game differently and communicate in different ways. This is a great learning experience. I’m talking, listening and debating with people from different cultures and backgrounds.

If you plan to work abroad, you will also need to factor in relocation costs, legal fees, obtaining a social security number, having a place to live, obtaining a local driver’s licence, dealing with no credit facilities as an “alien” and understanding the State law.

Most importantly, be prepared for an initial financial hit as you set up in your new environment. It’s not just a case of applying for a job and starting next Monday.