Meet the coaches - Charlie Hyman

Where have you previously coached?

I began coaching as a volunteer assistant coach at my younger brother’s U11 grassroots team. I was fifteen at the time, and after I finished my exams that summer, I decided I needed to do more work experience so I spent the summer shadowing a coach who worked for Fulham F.C.. I was involved in the club’s holiday courses and a range of other sessions and programmes.

Many of the full time coaches at Fulham recommended that I do my Level 2 coaching, so I embarked upon and completed the programme just after my 17th birthday. While I was still at school, I would head to Fulham Football Club training ground on weekday evenings to coach at the performance centre. Around this time, I took on an additional role coaching and organising a grassroots club in Regents Park on weekends. Over a four year period I helped to grow the club into a successful development programme and 200 children were attending every weekend. While reading Geography as the University of Nottingham, I continued to run operations at the club. I would commute to London every weekend in order to oversee sessions and league matches.

Upon finishing university, I knew that I wanted to run my own organization and work in football full time. I founded Bloomsbury Football Foundation with an ethos of providing top quality football opportunities accessible to any child, irrespective of ability to pay.

What coach do you aspire to be like? 

I grew up as an Arsenal fan, so with a modicum of personal bias, I cannot look past the great Arsene Wenger. He was one of the first managers who was more than just a football club, a businessman who ran the club and not just a team. He revolutionised football in this country for the better and is most definitely an inspiration to the way in which I run Bloomsbury.

What is your fondest football achievement?

Creating Bloomsbury Football Foundation is undoubtedly my fondest football achievement. In terms of playing, I have never played any decent level of football so my fondest memories are all futsal ones. Representing my country, winning the national futsal super league and FA cup were all incredible and hopefully there will be more silverware to come as well as an appearance in the UEFA Futsal Champions League next summer.

What is the most rewarding aspect of coaching at Bloomsbury Football Academy?

I would love to do more coaching, but unfortunately most of my time is spent organising the club to ensure that sessions run smoothly and the coaching environment provided is of the highest quality. Working with children for me is primarily about creating exceptional young adults, and if I can have a positive, lasting impact on their lives, then I have done my job. If they improve on the pitch, then that is a bonus.

What football club do you support?

My local team, The Arsenal. 

Who is your favourite player?

As a child my favourite player was Thierry Henry, who promptly left to join Barcelona. My favourite player was then Fabregas who, unfortunately, also left to join Barcelona. Wilshere took up the mantle after his departure, however, he then also left the club. Futsal has certainly influenced my current list of favourites, Coutinho, De Bruyne and Messi.