E
EuanL
Guest
Let me introduce myself to you all, I am Marvin Swan and this is my story. At a young age I remember being taken to the football with my dad and grandad. Nothing like 3 generations going to a game together, especially when its going to watch West Ham. There was nothing like walking down the road towards the Boleyn Ground together, hearing the fans chant, watching scarfs, hats a programs being sold. Listening to my granddad regale us with stories about Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters from the golden years of West Ham. Sadly the team that I grew up watching was the polar opposite of that. I have witnessed the club being relegated twice and be a mediocre team in the Premier League with the highest finish being 5th in the 98/99 season. I've also witnessed the clubs change hands which in 2010 the club was sold to current owners David Sullivan and David Gold and its safe to say their relationship with fans has been bumpy at best over the last 10 years. The club has also sadly left the Boleyn Ground and moved to the Olympic Stadium.
Now for my story with football, as an 8 year old I signed my first contract with a football club which was Millwall, yes they are the bitter rivals of my beloved team but when a professional team gives you a chance then even my dad couldn't say no as he knew where it might lead one day. The lads at training took every opportunity they could to rib me as they knew I was a massive West Ham fan. Everything was going well and I had even been invited to train with the first team a couple of times but at 16 I was on my way to training when the car I was in was hit by a lorry on the passenger side and sadly with the injuries sustained that day my playing career was over before it had even started. I decided to stick in at school and make an impact there while still getting to the games.
After finishing a degree in Business up north at the University of Strathclyde where I had also got the chance of coaching the university football team and they had even paid for me to get my National C License as well. As a graduation present my granddad surprised me with offering to pay for me to get my national B license. After that I was able to get a job as a coach in the U18's at Millwall through my old coach there and while doing that over the last 10 years I've completed the rest of my badges and worked my way up to first team coach. I am patiently waiting for the right team to come up thats willing to take a chance on a young and upcoming manager.