Russel Smith
Kingswinford,United Kingdom
Summary
Dynamic professional with a solid foundation in organised and adaptable work practices, complemented by expertise in relevant subject areas and leadership capabilities. Proven ability to communicate effectively and negotiate successfully, driving positive outcomes. Skilled in coaching. employability and entrepreneurship, fostering team growth and innovation. Committed to leveraging these skills to achieve strategic objectives and enhance organizational success.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
2038
2038
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Senior Lecturer Football and Coaching
University of Wolverhampton
Walsall
2019.12 - 2026.03
- Lead Coach Lecturer for Football Coaching Performance degree
- Coach development with students and wider WLV Sport
- Developing Analysis with Hudl SportsCode
- Outreach and recruitment for the WLV Sport Degrees
- Research , Curriculum design alongside standardisation
- Partnership work with Professional Clubs, Colleges, NGBS, County FA and Grassroots Clubs.
- Leading International work and employability for students.
- Collaborated on cross-departmental projects for interdisciplinary learning opportunities.
- Coordinated with colleagues to develop shared resources for increased efficiency in employability for students.
Affiliate Tutor, Consultant & Mentor
The FA
Birmingham, St George Park
2007.01 - 2026.03
Part time roles -
- Developing the football workforce through direct coach developing, coaching and mentoring with clubs/individuals in grassroots football clubs to build capacity and competence.
- Raising standards within the grassroots game linking to the FA Club and Developer Programmes.
- Leading Social Impact with the FA Club Calculator for Grassroots Clubs.
Part time positions and noted successes -
- "Catching you in" "Coaches as Friends" programme - Stourbridge District Youth League 2016-present.
- Key note at FA National Conference 2018 - "The only way is Dudley- Mentors tale"
- Key Note for FA Developer Conference 2026 - "Developer Series"
- Lead Deliverer for FA Club Programme on Community and work in IMD areas for Grassroots Clubs.
Senior Tutor Developer / Network
StreetGames UK
Midlands, National
2013.12 - 2019.12
- Coordinated training academy and network investment offerings for Sport England and StreetGames funded doorstep sports clubs
- Supported partnership project management and relationship management across Black Country, Nottingham, and Leicester City from 2014 to 2017.
- Assisted in developing coaches and managing delivery teams to facilitate front line delivery linked to Sport England programmes.
Successes -
- UK Coach developer of the year 2017
- UK Coach developer of the year Finalist 2016
- Move Transfer International Project success - Malta, Sweden and Kosovo.
Community, Sports & Extended School Manager
George Salter Academy
Greets Green, West Bromwich
2007.12 - 2013.06
- Facilitated community and sports development management for non-curricular activities at inner-city school in West Bromwich.
- Assisted in securing and implementing £1.5 million funding for sports facilities and activities, including capital and revenue projects.
- Supported partnership management with BT, ASDA, England Netball, Sport England, and Sandwell Council.
- Contributed to establishment of 'Salter Sports' brand and clubs in Black Country, providing sustainable access to sports facilities for 13-25 year olds.
- Helped set up West Bromwich Netball Club and Greets Green Albion FC alongside over 30 sports partnerships.
Education
Masters Degree - MRes - Coach Developing
Wolverhampton University
2017.01 - 2018.09
PGCERT (HE) - Teaching in HE
University of Wolverhampton
2020.01 - 2021.01
CIMSPA - undefined
Advanced Coach Practitioner Status
2016.10 - 2025.09
Licenced Coach Developer -
The FA
Life Coaching Transformational NLP - NLP
Auspicium
Skills
- Organised and flexible
- Subject matter expertise
- Leadership abilities
- Effective communication
- Influential negotiation
- Coaching techniques
- Entrepreneurism
Certification
- CIMSPA - Advanced Coach Practitioner Status
- UEFA B Licence - The FA
- FA Youth Award
- FA Developer Licence
- FA First Aid / Safeguarding
- CAVA L4
- L3EAT & L4IQA
- Mentoring Adults Award
- Handball & Basketball Level 2
- Mental Health Practitioner L2
- Other Industry Awards and Standards
Accomplishments
- UK Coach Developer of the Year 2017
- UK Coach Developer of the Year Finalist - 2016 & 2025
- FA Developer Series, "SDYFL Catching you in" and Mentors tale- 2016-2026
- FA Club Programme Lead - Community and Club Impact Calculator - 2022-Ongoing
- University of Wolverhampton - Award Outstanding Contribution to Outreach = 2022
- University of Wolverhampton - Staff Awards Outreach and Employability - 2025
Affiliations
- Travel
- Nature
- Sports
PROJECTS
- UEFA Hattrick Project, 09/2005 - 11/2007, West Bromwich, Regeneration project, Successes -, UK COACHING - COACH DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR - 2017, Programme development with Benson Community in Sandwell, Coach Developer of the Year Finalist 2016 - SCUK National awards, Catching you In and -CoachMates - Live and links to overtime people developing, New products developed with NGBs - The FA, Handball & International, Part of SCUK Award winning team - Coach Intervention of the year 2013- Doorstep Level 2
- Black Country Coaches Club CIC - Community Enterprise, Coach and Volunteer support for -, Young Leaders 13- 19, Young Adults 18-25, Existing Adult volunteers in Club or Community settings., Successes -, Development of accredited recognised training and pathways with CIMSPA . We are a 3 star accredited education partner., Junior Football Leaders award, Multisport Coaching Award, Mentoring Adults and Young Peoples award, Delivery and benfitting over 500 people in the WM region since 2020.
- #CoachMates project, 06/2015 - Ongoing, Midlands and now national, Volunteers & Coaches support, Mentoring, Intervention , career support for Volunteers and Coaches, Published Journal Article, https://www.joomag.com/applied-coaching-research-journal-research-journal-volume-2/071019001538731493?short
- MOVE TRANSFER International, 02/2014 - Ongoing, Europe, Empowering and transferring programmes and Linking from the UK to Kosovo, Sweden and Malta, Volunteer empowerment legacy of participation activity for teenagers in Kosovo OESK, Sweden SISU and Malta MOVE., http://www.isca-web.org/english/news/iscamovetransferprogramme/thefocusofanewstudy (Kosovo ), https://en-gb.facebook.com/StreetGamesAngered/ (Sweden)
JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
- Smith, R. and Leflay, K., 2018 & 2020 Evaluation of the Coach Mates Connectors programme. Maximising the potent of people in sport and life .
- Smith, R. and Leflay, K., 2020 Building life skills and community through Coach Mentoring.
- Smith, R. and Harrison, M, 2024. The Race to 11 v 11. The Science of Youth Football Pearson Publishing.
References
- Martin, Harrison, Professional, m.harrison5@wlv.ac.uk, University of Wolverhampton
- Andy, Somers, Professional, Andrew.Somers@thefa.com, The FA
- Tom, Lee, Professional, tom.lee@thefa.com, The FA
- Luke, Bowles, Professional, luke.bowles@birminghamfa.com, Birmingham FA
- Graham, Herstell, Personal, Graham.herstell@mmu.ac.uk, MMU
- Mick, Baikkie, Personal, Mick.Baikkie@thefa.com, The FA
Timeline
PGCERT (HE) - Teaching in HE
University of Wolverhampton
2020.01 - 2021.01
Senior Lecturer Football and Coaching
University of Wolverhampton
2019.12 - 2026.03
Masters Degree - MRes - Coach Developing
Wolverhampton University
2017.01 - 2018.09
CIMSPA - undefined
Advanced Coach Practitioner Status
2016.10 - 2025.09
Senior Tutor Developer / Network
StreetGames UK
2013.12 - 2019.12
Community, Sports & Extended School Manager
George Salter Academy
2007.12 - 2013.06
Affiliate Tutor, Consultant & Mentor
The FA
2007.01 - 2026.03
Licenced Coach Developer -
The FA
Life Coaching Transformational NLP - NLP
Auspicium