Shooman is ready to kick on at Whitehawk
REMEMBER Harry Shooman? A Bangor lad who made quite an impression on the North Wales youth football scene a handful of years back.
Harry now lives and works in Brighton and recently signed for Whitehawk FC, who will compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division next season.
His day job is schools co-ordinator for the recently-formed Russell Martin Foundation, backed by the Scottish international and Rangers player.
RMF’s mission is to offer a development pathway for boys and girls, aged five to 19, from fun holiday camps through to elite player development.
Gaining his FA Level 2 qualification before his 19th birthday, Harry was one of the youngest in Sussex to reach this level and continues to be heavily involved in mentoring the next generation of young coaches through his participation in the FA Young Coaches Development Programme.
Harry’s own football career started at age seven playing for Llanfairfechan U8s and has seen him represent Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor Academy, Chester, Macclesfield, Airbus and Mostyn Dragons up to U16s.
Since the move to Sussex, he has represented Brighton City College, winning back-to-back county cups, captained Sussex U18s, spent two seasons at Whitehawk youths as a player before a further two as a coach, helping the team to an historic treble in 2016-17. They followed up this season with an unbeaten league campaign and ‘champion of champions’ cup success.
Harry stepped up to senior football last season with Saltdean United, who were promoted to the Sussex Combined Premier Division – step nine of the football pyramid.
This season has seen continued success with Saltdean as they reached Sussex Senior Cup semi-finals, losing out to a full strength Crawley Town managed by former Liverpool player Harry Kewell and finishing top six in the County Premier. His versatility has seen him play a number of positions this season including left-back, centre-back, left wing and midfield.
Combining a busy coaching career and the commitments of playing is not an easy task but is helped by his natural enthusiasm for the game and his passion for developing not only his own game but players of all ages and abilities.
Having played in both Wales and England, and being eligible to represent England, Wales or the Republic of Ireland, and not yet 21, Harry has joined Whitehawk FC for the coming season.
Relegated from the Conference South at the end of last term, Whitehawk will be plying their trade in the Isthmian Premier League (Bostik League).
Harry Shooman’s playing career: Llanfairfechan U8-U10; Bangor Academy U9-U11; Penrhosgarnedd U11-U12; Chester Academy U12-U13; Macclesfield Academy U13-U15; Airbus Academy U15-U16; Mostyn Dragons U15U16; Sussex U18s; Whitehawk U18s; Saltdean United 2016-18; Whitehawk FC 2018-present.