28/09/2026
THIS IS WHY WE DO IT ❤️⚽️
I’m fortunate enough to receive quite a lot of messages like this from former students, but if I’m being completely truthful, I’m often too scared to share them.
Not because I’m not proud of them, but because I never want it to come across as though I’m looking for praise or recognition. The reality is, though, these messages tell the story of what we try to create at SJUS far better than I ever could.
If you’re wondering why a young player should choose SJUS, this probably explains it.
Of course we want to develop footballers. We want players to improve, progress through the levels and create opportunities for themselves within the game.
But SJUS has never just been about football.
For the last eight years, we’ve tried to create something that feels different. A family environment where young men are supported, challenged, held accountable and prepared for life as well as football.
Ironically, the young man who sent me this message probably received the biggest dressing down I’ve given any player in those eight years! 😂
He was sent off for kicking out at an opponent in a game we had been comfortable in against a very good side. Suddenly, because of one moment, his teammates had their backs against the wall for the final twenty minutes. We rode our luck, dug unbelievably deep and somehow held on for a draw.
Afterwards, he knew exactly how I felt.
That was a real make or break moment for him.
Was he going to sulk, take it personally and allow that telling off to knock him down? Or was he going to accept it, learn from it and level up?
He chose the latter.
He rolled his sleeves up, apologised to the group off his own back, took responsibility for his actions and became an ever-present in our side.
That, for me, is development.
Not just becoming a better footballer, but learning about accountability, resilience, respect and how to respond when you get things wrong.
He leaves us as a truly great young man who I already miss having around the place. He has now progressed to university while continuing to play adult football at a good level, and I couldn’t be happier for him.
Maybe I need to stop being scared of sharing messages like these, because they’re not really about me. They’re about the young people who walk through our doors and the relationships we build along the way.
Messages like this mean more than any trophy ever could.
At SJUS, we develop footballers. But more importantly, we develop people.
Once you become part of our family, that doesn’t end when you leave the programme.
Go and smash your next chapter, young man.
Unbelievably PROUD! ❤️
Train. Learn. Succeed.
