COACH BOOSTS ACADEMY
THE thought of never having to wear five layers of clothes again sparked Alex Russell’s interest in the Far North, but it was an opportunity to tutor the region’s young footballers alongside an old teammate that inspired him to make the move.
The former professional footballer and UEFA A License coach recently joined the senior coaching team at Cairns’ Jamie Gosling Football Academy
Russell said he was looking forward to giving Far North footballers the tools they needed to succeed in the sport.
“Some kids don’t realise – and parents as well – that coming to training once or twice a week isn’t what makes you a better footballer,” said Russell.
“Coaches give you the skills, techniques and ideas, but you also need to go off and practice in your own time.
“That’s the biggest thing I want to teach the kids – we will teach you the skills and techniques, but you won’t get anywhere without hard work and dedication.”
Russell played most of his career in England’s League One and League Two competitions.
In 2007, he was playing for Bristol City when the club finally achieved the elusive promotion to the second-tier Championship, which evaded them for eight years in the third-tier League One.
Jamie Gosling, a former teammate of Russell’s at Torquay United, said Russell was a “perfect fit” for the academy.
“We share the same philosophies when it comes to football, coaching and player development,” he said.
“He will add a massive amount of experience and knowledge to the academy.”