Butcher authors football manual
While he is more widely known in cricketing circles, Roland Butcher has stepped outside that comfort zone by authoring a football coaching manual.
In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Butcher revealed he had written the manual titled, ‘Achieving Excellence: Caribbean Soccer Coaching Manual’, which is scheduled to be launched on April 30th.
In revealing that the book had been endorsed by FIFA, Butcher, who serves as a selector and chairman of the Sir Everton Weekes Centre of Excellence, said he believed the book would be a “game changer” in the region.
“This manual will change the way football is coached in the Caribbean. I believe it will be the game changer for primary and secondary schools, clubs and coaches in the region. The forward is written by Sir Hillary Beckles, the Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and it is endorsed by the Caribbean Football Union, FIFA, Arsenal Football Club and other significant individuals in the football arena,” Butcher explained.
When asked why he chose to write a handbook for football instead of cricket, the former England middle-order batsman said it was always his desire to compose a book of this nature.
“I have wide and varied experience in football. I am a B License UEFA qualified football coach and the highest football coach in Barbados. I was the first black footballer to play semi professional football for Steven age in the English Football League and was a soccer school coach at Arsenal for over a decade.
“During that time I played for Arsenal’s ex-professional team. I worked with Brendan Rogers, the current manager of Leicester City, when I was an academy coach at Reading Football Club. I met Brendan when we were students on the B License coaching course a couple of years later after he was appointed the academy director of Reading Football Club and he invited me to work with him. I accepted his offer and worked as an academy coach managing my own team. Even though I am known for my exploits as a cricketer, I have been involved with football for most of my life,” Butcher disclosed.
He said the intention of the manual was to give footballers and coaches from the Caribbean the opportunity to develop their skills to an international standard.
In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Butcher revealed he had written the manual titled, ‘Achieving Excellence: Caribbean Soccer Coaching Manual’, which is scheduled to be launched on April 30th.
In revealing that the book had been endorsed by FIFA, Butcher, who serves as a selector and chairman of the Sir Everton Weekes Centre of Excellence, said he believed the book would be a “game changer” in the region.
“This manual will change the way football is coached in the Caribbean. I believe it will be the game changer for primary and secondary schools, clubs and coaches in the region. The forward is written by Sir Hillary Beckles, the Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies and it is endorsed by the Caribbean Football Union, FIFA, Arsenal Football Club and other significant individuals in the football arena,” Butcher explained.
When asked why he chose to write a handbook for football instead of cricket, the former England middle-order batsman said it was always his desire to compose a book of this nature.
“I have wide and varied experience in football. I am a B License UEFA qualified football coach and the highest football coach in Barbados. I was the first black footballer to play semi professional football for Steven age in the English Football League and was a soccer school coach at Arsenal for over a decade.
“During that time I played for Arsenal’s ex-professional team. I worked with Brendan Rogers, the current manager of Leicester City, when I was an academy coach at Reading Football Club. I met Brendan when we were students on the B License coaching course a couple of years later after he was appointed the academy director of Reading Football Club and he invited me to work with him. I accepted his offer and worked as an academy coach managing my own team. Even though I am known for my exploits as a cricketer, I have been involved with football for most of my life,” Butcher disclosed.
He said the intention of the manual was to give footballers and coaches from the Caribbean the opportunity to develop their skills to an international standard.