Welcome to ‘Dugout Diaries’, a content series in partnership with the Premier League highlighting a new cohort of coaches working hard to make elite level football more diverse and inclusive for the next generation, on and off the pitch.

Former Cambridge United and Portsmouth defender Courtney Pitt was one of the first people to graduate from the Professional Player to Coach Scheme (PPCS) – a joint programme between the PFA, the Premier League and the EFL designed to increase the number of Black, Asian and minority ethnic players who transition into coaching. 

The scheme, first introduced in 2020, provides six coaches per season with a 23-month intensive work placement at a Premier League or EFL club within the Academy or first team-environment. Each coach works through a personal learning and development programme focusing on several key areas: physical performance and conditioning, recruitment, analysis, administration and coaching different age groups.

His first taste of coaching came by chance, helping out a friend who trained an amateur team. After getting the bug for helping to improve the next generation, he became a P.E. teacher before starting work at Burton Albion as a scout, where he eventually transitioned into performance coaching. Fast forward to 2024, and Pitt coaches Wolves’ U11/U12 team with a view to building the next wave of Premier League talent.

VERSUS sat down with Courtney to talk about the Premier League’s ongoing efforts to improve diversity and inclusion off-pitch, why it's so important young players see themselves in their coaches, and what his plans are for the next stage of his career.

"I want to leave a lasting impression and help to build great characters."

As someone who played non-league, what are some lessons from that part of the football pyramid that young academy players can learn?

It’s super tough! Some kids don’t know how tough it is. I found it super tough. I came through at the top and had to filter down. There is a certain robustness you have to possess in the lower leagues.

You have mentioned previously that you felt like you underachieved in your career in comparison to your talent. How do coaches ensure that does not happen for future talent?

I have to be honest, a lot of that has to do with intrinsic motivation. I missed a large part of my development between the ages of 19-22 and that was down to not doing the extras.

I thought I'd made it because I was playing. The principle of wanting to be better every day is needed. Training is not enough, the players at the top do the extras. The way I can help my young players is to tell them about my own story and get them to realise that they have to push for more, even outside of my time with them.

Talk me through your coaching journey from the beginning to now?

I started with my mate’s team and then I worked in a school as a multi-sports coach. Whilst there, I did my Level 2 badge. During that time, I worked in a Midlands football academy with 16-18 year olds in the British College League. Doing that really made me love coaching.

One of the teachers mentioned that I should train to be a P.E. teacher. So I went to university and got my degree but I also happened to meet someone from Burton Albion. After some conversations, I started scouting there and volunteering before being offered a head of coaching role at a semi-pro side in Birmingham.

My biggest thing there was implementing a curriculum for under-8s all the way to the first team, which was adopted. At this point, I felt like I wanted to coach even more and the PPCS came up. The scheme then led to going in at Burton – a time I really enjoyed. As the scheme ended, I was offered the ‘Head of Coaching’ role there which was big for me. There are not many Black heads of coaching in the game. 

I did that role for a year before joining Wolves and yeah, I’m still pushing on.

What do you want to go on and achieve in your coaching career?

In all honesty, it may sound corny, but I just want these young people to remember me. I saw a group of boys I used to coach recently and they all greeted me and gave me a high five. That is it. If I see players in 10 years’ time, I would hope they don’t just walk past me.

I want to leave a lasting impression and help to build great characters. I would love for them to go on and play the game and have great careers, but the personal touch and making a real impact on someone’s life journey is what I do it for.

@MayowaQuadri_

VERSUS: What does being a coach mean to you?

Courtney: It’s about improving and developing people – but this isn’t just about football. It’s about how we can give people some life skills that are long lasting, and form a foundation for them moving forward. If they were to leave this Academy because it didn’t work out, how can we say we have helped them build their character?

We want to help our young players with their resilience, self discipline and all of those amazing things.

How have you benefited from being on the Professional Player to Coach Scheme?

I would not be in the industry without the PPCS. It helped me get into a professional club and that was a huge step for me. It provided me with the bespoke teachings I needed and it wasn’t just how I could develop my coaching craft, but also my personal development and my character.

How do I speak to people when giving feedback? What does my body language say? How do I set goals? All of these things were super important and they still help now. One of my takeaways from it all is that if I know my strengths and areas to improve, I know how to keep developing.

What does it mean for you to also have two former teammates who are alumni of the PPCS?

For me, it shows that it works. I was in the pilot but Benjani and Ricardo Fuller have both done the programme and are now working with top clubs, too. We all played at Portsmouth. But when you think about it, it just shows you how competitive football is! Benjani was a £7m signing and Ricardo was an international footballer. They still find it hard to get a job in football, but again, the scheme proves extra useful in helping with that.

You came through one of the best academies in the world today, the Chelsea Academy. What did you learn from that period that you are able to teach the young kids you coach today?

I learned how tough it is to actually make it in football. The football world is so competitive and staying within it is tough.  For me, it increased the need to teach these young people about self-ownership and their own intrinsic motivation.

If they are fortunate enough to get to professional football, there is no one on your back to do the extra stuff – those are lessons that need to be learned from an early age.

How much has your lived experience and upbringing played a part in the type of coach you are today?

A huge part. My background and upbringing is all about my family striving to be better – not in a way of trying to outdo people, but we wanted more.

I came from a family that was naive to the football industry, so I had no one to learn from. I also came through at a time where there were not a lot of Black players in the first team of Premier League or Championship sides. Equally, there were not as many young Black players coming through the academy system.

I’m a first generation British citizen so all of my family was born in the Caribbean. They had their own paths but mine was different. No one was aware of what it was like for me going into this full-time professional environment as a scholar. 

Having gone through that and understanding what it can be like for some of the players coming through or even some of the parents experiencing it with their kids, I can offer support as I have lived it. 

‍Was coaching always something you always saw yourself doing?‍

Never – I never once considered it when playing. I know many people say they fall into things, but I really did fall into coaching. I was playing for a friend of mine and he was coaching. He asked for my help and I caught the bug. 

Talking about creating a way to play, tactics, responsibilities…it did something for me. It also related to my experience of playing so I was able to inform these players about how It felt for me. I never had a role model I wanted to follow, but hopefully I am able to be that for someone else with my own journey.