About Me

I started coaching in 2001 following a lifelong interest in sport and particularly football. After leaving Hopwood Hall College I wrote many letters to different local football clubs asking if I could come and observe some training sessions. My local team, Oldham Athletic, got in touch and that started a 16-year association with the club’s Academy. Over the next 18 months I was able to assist with the under 11's and 12's group which allowed me to build up my experience. In the 2003/04 season I was given the opportunity to take a team of my own, which was the club’s under 9's team. As the seasons have progressed I have been fortunate to work with almost every age group within the Academy. For the past 18 months I have been given the role of Lead Foundation Phase coach and I oversee the Academy’s U9’s, U10’s & U11’s age groups.  

As well as working with talented young players I had the opportunity to work at a semi-professional level with Chadderton FC as Reserve Team Coach and Assistant Reserve Team Manager. Then in 2011 the opportunity to manage the reserve team at Woodley Sports came along and I gained valuable experience in coaching, managing a team and dealing with players. At the end of that season Chadderton FC asked if I would return and manage the reserve team to help develop players to make the next step into first team football. At the end of the 2014/2015 season I stepped down from my role at Chadderton FC. But after a 2-year break I am looking for an opportunity to get testing myself at a first team level again.

In the 2011/12 season I was fortunate to work with the under 16's elite cerebral palsy north west squad as the assistant coach. This turned out to be a great season both personally and professionally developing players for the England pathway, the team were also crowned National Champions. 

I am fuelled by my passion to constantly improve myself and my knowledge of players, development and the sciences involved in sport. Considering myself a ‘lifetime learner’, eager to build up all foundations in my skill set and stay in tune and ahead of the game through constant learning and research. Some of this is demonstrated in the courses currently being undertaken. They are the UEFA A Licence which should be completed not long into the New Year and, the Advanced Youth Award (AYA) - this one is focusing on the Foundation Phase age groups. 

I also enjoy a range of other sports such as Cricket, Rugby, Golf and more recently, under the influence of my wonderful wife Amy, all things Equestrian. Away from sports I has other interests such as reading, travelling, walking and making numerous attempts at keeping fit.

If you would be interested in speaking with me in regard to collaboration for coaching weeks or other events then please contact me on craig.large1@googlemail.com or through the contact page on the website.