Sam Cunningham - Making History
Having never been able to play football as a child, I have always dreamt of managing a team. I always imagined my local Sunday League team would be as far as it ever went however this all changed in the middle of May 2011. I woke up to find an email from Kit Symons the Scout for Sillsport Group. He had heard of my endeavours with Weybridge F.C. and wanted me to come for an interview with Neil Sillet the Director.
I drove down to East Grinstead, where the Sillsport HQ was based. I waited for what seemed like an eternity, with my stomach churning and unable to keep my fingers from fiddling. Finally, I was called in to Mr Sillets' Office. He was sat at a large Oak desk waiting for me to cross the expansive room. He started to discuss my previous roles at Weybridge F.C. and asked me why I decided to go the route of a football manager unlike many other wheelchair users who end up with desk jobs. Before I could answer, a man with a slim build and greying sideburns burst into the room. It was Kit Symons. Finally, with Kit there we began to discuss in detail there proposal for me. It seems they felt that I had the potential to go far in the world of management, if I were to be given the right support.
I came out of that meeting having signed a contract to be represented by Sillsport Group and having been told I am signed up to complete my UEFA 'B' License.
By June I had completed my UEFA 'B' License and Mr Sillet had started the search for a job!
As I had kind of expected the search for a club was not particularly fruitful as many clubs were unsure as how someone who has never played the game could manage a team to glory.
On July 15th Kit phoned me after dinner and explained that there was a club who wanted to meet me and see me run a coaching session with there team. I flew off to Spain that night!
Kit met me at the airport and took me to the hotel. On the journey to the hotel Kit explained to me about the league and the club.
I drove down to East Grinstead, where the Sillsport HQ was based. I waited for what seemed like an eternity, with my stomach churning and unable to keep my fingers from fiddling. Finally, I was called in to Mr Sillets' Office. He was sat at a large Oak desk waiting for me to cross the expansive room. He started to discuss my previous roles at Weybridge F.C. and asked me why I decided to go the route of a football manager unlike many other wheelchair users who end up with desk jobs. Before I could answer, a man with a slim build and greying sideburns burst into the room. It was Kit Symons. Finally, with Kit there we began to discuss in detail there proposal for me. It seems they felt that I had the potential to go far in the world of management, if I were to be given the right support.
I came out of that meeting having signed a contract to be represented by Sillsport Group and having been told I am signed up to complete my UEFA 'B' License.
By June I had completed my UEFA 'B' License and Mr Sillet had started the search for a job!
As I had kind of expected the search for a club was not particularly fruitful as many clubs were unsure as how someone who has never played the game could manage a team to glory.
On July 15th Kit phoned me after dinner and explained that there was a club who wanted to meet me and see me run a coaching session with there team. I flew off to Spain that night!
Kit met me at the airport and took me to the hotel. On the journey to the hotel Kit explained to me about the league and the club.
