Helping Ben Turn Dreams into Reality
Ben is a 20-year-old who currently lives with his mother. He has a deep passion for football and dreams of becoming a football coach one day. As a devoted supporter of AFC Wimbledon Football Club, Ben spends much of his time following the team and analysing football matches. His enthusiasm for the sport drives him to learn as much as he can about football and coaching techniques. He hopes to become a football coach in the future.
Ben joined the Training Ground programme in November, seeking guidance on how to turn his passion for football into a coaching career. Initially, he felt uncertain about how to navigate this path; he struggled with setting specific goals and the steps needed to develop his coaching knowledge. The programme offered him valuable resources and support, helping him gain confidence in his abilities to set goals to become a football coach.
“Ben has an incredible amount of knowledge in football, he is like a football encyclopaedia. His success lies in practising what he is learning, which has increased his confidence and love for football.”
Over the course of five weeks of mentoring sessions, Ben's confidence has grown significantly as he has learned to set and achieve weekly goals. This structured approach has allowed him to make progress in his coaching journey. He has successfully completed his BT Playmaker course, equipping him with essential skills and knowledge for coaching. In a week's time, he will begin his Induction to Football, marking another important step forward in his development as a coach. Ben's determination is paving the way for a bright future in the sport he loves.
““Football is my passion. The opportunity to participate in the Training Ground programme at AFC Wimbledon was like a dream come true. It has helped me to be in the place where I fit and perform best. At the start of the program, I was unsure if it would really help me, but as the weeks went on, everything started to change. Each week I set small goals with my mentor, and I can see real results.” ”
You can help us support more people like Ben by joining the Dons Cycle Challenge and raising money for AFC Wimbledon Foundation.