My first few weeks as the new Girls Academy Manager have been a bit of a whirlwind. My first order of business has been to immerse myself in the Club and understand its history, its people, and its culture. That foundation, together with my background coaching soccer internationally, will shape my vision for the Academy.

As I absorb the Club’s background and history, I thought I’d focus this first update on what inspired my move from the UK to the beautiful city of Calgary, and my preliminary thoughts on plans for the Academy.

Foothills is Paving the Pathway of Women’s Soccer in Canada

These are exciting times for our country’s female athletes. The opportunity to help girls progress to play in the new Northern Super League by managing the Foothills Girls Academy was a compelling factor in my decision. But I have a young son, and before I made a big move, I had to be sure it was the right one. The Foothills team did a great job of painting a vision of what they are trying to accomplish for women in sport and how the Girls Academy impacts that plan. I did some deep research on Foothills which resolved my remaining hesitations. It didn’t take me long to understand why the Club is a leader in sport in Alberta (and Canada) for both men and women. The Club’s reputation made the decision to move my family from the UK to Calgary an easier one, and together, my wife and I agreed this was a great opportunity.

I have a big responsibility to uphold the Club’s reputation, represent its culture, and ensure the Academy program remains one of the best. I am also looking for ways to take it to the next level and leave my mark. Here’s how I am approaching it.

Step One. Immerse Myself in the Club’s History and Culture

The Club has a well-deserved reputation for excellent people and programs. I have been soaking up the atmosphere and understanding what it means to uphold our values of “Soccer for Life,” “A Club for All,” and “Developing Excellent Players and Outstanding People.”

Step Two. Shadow My Predecessor, Lee Tucker.

Lee Tucker has been instrumental in building an outstanding Girls Academy. I’m in the enviable position of having Lee onboard me and share the Academy’s history and the Club’s vision for it. The program he developed is solid, and its reputation is strong, so a big priority has been to understand it inside and out.

Step Three. Leverage My Colleagues.

Soccer is a team sport and Foothills has an all-star team of professionals in place. Collaborating with the experienced professionals at Foothills, including Operations Manager Colin Mackay, Boys Academy Manager Marc McLaren, and Phase Leads Al Fernandes and Luis Tinoco, has been instrumental in my transition.

Where to From Here?

1. Continue to get to know the Foothills team. I’m very impressed by the quality of the staff here. The list I provided above is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m focused on fully understanding what everyone brings to the table so that I can best leverage them to help meet the needs of our Academy members and their parents and continue to deliver the best experience possible for them.
2. Foothills is working to attract more women to play soccer and keep them playing for life. I will position the Girls Academy to be an ally in supporting that goal.
3. Align with the Northern Super League and the Calgary Wild FC pro team to make sure our girls are prepared to participate at whatever role or level they choose.
4. Beyond the players, develop our coaches, trainers, managers…, everyone who supports our soccer-for-life culture.

Calgary and the Club has some of the best female players in the region. It’s rewarding as a coach to work with high-potential, keen, hungry players. I am committed to making sure our Academy provides everything they need to achieve their personal aspirations and develop excellent players and outstanding people.

Send me an email at Greg@gofoothills.ca if you have questions about the Girls Academy.