Jamie’s job at Beith Trust is to engage the local community and get them involved in everything sport related. From football to tennis, walking to cycling, anything that will get the community out and about and enjoy staying active.
Currently, Jamie is creating our summer camps programme to be held at the Astro. He has planned three camps, football from 3rd-7th July 10am-3pm, Tennis 10th-14th 10am-3pm and Playscheme 31st July-4th August 10am-3pm. Another one of Jamie’s projects is to launch a new sports leader’s campaign in August. Sports Leaders is a programme aimed at young people aged between 12-18 who are interested in sports and developing their leadership skills. It’s a fantastic course with huge benefits to the participants in their organisation skills, confidence and effective delivery in many sports.
“I am delighted to be back working at Beith Trust as sports development officer. This job is amazing and each day is very different and challenging but extremely rewarding. Just now I am preparing our summer camps which I am really excited about. I hope the community will enjoy them as I have really enjoyed planning them. We have decided to incorporate some trips to Hampden and the Sea life centre which will be very exciting days out for our campers!”
Jamie has recently just passed the UEFA B License football coaching award. This was a yearlong course organised through the SFA. The course is run by director of coaching Jim Fleeting and head of coaching Donald Park. The Scottish FA’s UEFA courses are very well regarded not only in Europe but worldwide as many people from all over the world come to Scotland to participate in the licenses. Many famous football managers have passed the UEFA licenses under the guidance of Fleeting and Park, such as Jose Mourinho, Fabio Capello and Andre Villas-Boas.
“To pass the UEFA B license is absolutely fantastic and I am incredibly proud to achieve this. It’s been a hard but very enjoyable year with the Scottish FA. The tutors, fellow candidates and also the professional players on the course were an absolute delight to meet and learn from. I hope this license and experience will help the town’s community football club. We have a brilliant town who love their football and anything I can do to help the players/coaches and parents I will certainly do my best to do so.
WHAT OTHER JOB WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IF NOT THE ONE YOU DO?
Sport is a huge part of my life so if I wasn’t in this job I definitely would be doing something in the sporting industry, a coach or tutor would be what I would like to do. Thankfully in this job I can do both and so much more!
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD GIVE YOUR 13-YEAR-OLD SELF?
I would say to work a little bit harder in school and to also try and learn another language. That’s something I would also like to do but have always put myself off. I would also say to my younger self to go and travel as much as you can. I love football so looking back I would say go and travel to as many countries as you can, and watch some matches and how other football academies operate. That is something I wish I had done much more of!
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE DATE
March 10th 2016. – I moved to Los Angeles, California on this date to work as a football coach for USA Junior Soccer. This was one of the best decisions and life experiences I have ever had. Coaching in the Californian sunshine every day in the 30’s was incredible.
May 29th 2016 – The day Beith Juniors won the Scottish Junior Cup for the very first time! I was in LA and wasn’t due to return to Beith until the second week in June, however once Beith had beaten Kilwinning in the semis there was no way I would miss the final and it didn’t disappoint. I’ve been following Beith Juniors for as long as I can remember and for years my brother Greg and best mates Craig & Jim watched agonisingly as we kept falling out the competition. However that all changed when the mighty won on penalties! It was an unbelievable day and I was just glad I got home to see it.
