FOOTBALL ACADEMY DIRECTORS
Dave Baldwin
CEO of RIASA Football Academy
Dave along with the football director will be responsible and oversee the relationship with professional clubs in the UK, Continental European and USA leagues. Dave brings a wealth of experience to the RIASA program. As the chief executive officer of Professional Club, Bradford City FC, he is well versed in the football industry and will oversee RIASA strategic plan for opportunities for the RIASA player as the program moves forward.
Mr. Mark Ellis
Football Director
Mark Ellis, former Professional Soccer player for Bradford City for over 14 year will oversee the player development program at RIASA. Mark has worked at UK professional clubs Leeds United, Huddersfield Town FC and Ajax of Amsterdam in South Africa as a coach. He has also worked in the USA as a coach at various levels. Mark has undertaken the UEFA coaching B and A License courses and is a Football Association tutor. Mark's professional contacts span the world and he will seek players from aboard to play at RIASA.
In his first year at the head of the football program at RIASA Mark has placed the first RIASA student into the professional ranks as well as forged a link to professional Norwegian club Stabaek for the placement of non-EU players. In addition to his duties as overseeing the professional development and opportunities for RIASA players Mark will work as an assistant coach on certain training days.
Brian Haley, Ed.D.
RIASA Football Academy, International Director
Brian heads up a scouting network across the globe for RIASA. He is Professional College coach in the US since 1989 after moving to the US from England. He saw the need for the serious American soccer player to be given a wider opportunity for development than they can presently get in the USA. He holds a Doctorate in Education as well as the Premier Coaching license from the National Soccer Coaching Association of America. He will work closely with both the CEO of RIASA and the Football Director to ensure the student experience is one of quality and provides the right opportunity for players and meets their expectations. Brian played professional Soccer in the American Soccer League for the Cleveland Cobras and for a number of semi professional teams in the UK.
Dale Friesen
Technology Director, CEO and President of Beagle Productions Inc.
Dale oversees Marketing, Software Development and the on-line athlete development program. An entrepreneurial visionary with a knack for developing teams and products that anticipate market gaps. Dale has a proven track record of working with businesses to successfully leverage online technology in the Corporate, High Performance Sport and Health & Wellness industries.
RIASA is committed to integrate the next level of coaching beyond the athletic field to using on line coaching education for players and staff to reach optimal performance both on the field and in the classroom.
RIASA Coaching Staff
RIASA Session coaches will be qualified up to UEFA “A” licensed level.
Dai Jones
Head Academy Coach
UEFA ‘A’ Licensed Coach, former England u21 Scout and Professional Coach with Crystal Palace and Wimbledon FC.
Dai Jones, is a former England U21 scout. As an International Scout he knows how to spot talent and help develop players. Dai has worked with Crystal Palace and Wimbledon when they were both in the Premier League and Champion league respectively.
He has worked with players at all levels from college aged to the professional levels. Dai will be on hand to provide advice for young players and use his contacts to help RIASA players within the professional networks. Part of Dai’s responsibilities is to assess players across all clubs for the England u21 team.
John Hendrie UEFA ‘A’ Licensed Coach, Scottish International, Pro Manager
Associate, Academy Session Coach. RIASA Player Representative & Consultant
John played at the Premiership level with Newcastle United, Middleborough, Leeds United, Barnsley and Bradford City FC. John has also been the manager of Barnsley FC when they were in the English Premiership; John also holds the UEFA "A" Coaching License.
John has numerous contacts within the professional game and will be responsible for coordinating the games for RIASA with professional youth team academies. John will represent all RIASA players who are looking to play at any professional level. He has already managed and consulted with several top premiership players including Robbie Savage, Leicester City FC, Birmingham City FC and Welsh International, Mark Schwarzer Australian International and Fulham Goalkeeper, Stuart Mc Call Bradford City FC Manager, Everton and Scotland International, and Dean Windass, Bradford City & Hull City FC.
John's son is presently on the books at Manchester United Professional Youth Academy.
Ian Banks. UEFA ‘A’ Licensed Coach, Former Professional Player
Academy Session Coach
Ian was a professional footballer who played for Barnsley, Leicester City, Huddersfield Town, Bradford City, West Bromwich Albion, Rotherham United and Darlington. He has also been an assistant coach at Chesterfield FC and Bradford City FC.
Ian is also the head coach of Eccleshill United FC in the NCEL, a semi professional outfit that is a natural progression for players from the UK Richmond team who are deemed good enough to play. Several RIASA players have played for Eccleshill United at various levels from their U19 team to their full senior side in 2010.
Mr. Mark Ellis, RIASA Football Director, Former Professional Player
Assistant Session Coach
The RIASA Football Director will assistant the Academy coaches with sessions as and when needed. Mark’s main responsibility within the development framework of players will be to help players move to the next level as well oversee the relationship that RIASA has developed with professional clubs in the UK and the European Continent.
Fitness Staff at the Football Academy
Nigel Redmond
Fitness coach and Nutrition
Nigel holds a Bsc(hons) exercise and fitness from Leeds Metropolitan University and is a qualified lecturer in sport/fitness related components. He has extensive overseas soccer coaching experience in the USA. He is the sports centre manager at Bradford College and also works with all the college athletes with their strength, fitness and nutritional needs.
Coaching Course Staff
Gary Batley
UEFA Coaching Course Instructor
Gary will oversee the UEFA coaching licensure courses for players. Gary holds the UEFA "A" license and is a Coach educator up to level 3 UEFA B.
Sports Information Director
Alia Szurma
As the sports information director for the RIASA football Academy Alia will be responsible for photos, video, bio information of players, game reports and social media.
Alia holds a degree from Bradford University in Photography and Communications. Having moved to Yorkshire, England in 2006, Alia provided much of the photography for Bradford College’s new brand images working with the marketing department and college recruitment around the Yorkshire and Lancashire area.
Alia is also secretary for F.C. RIASA, West Yorkshire League.
Alia has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Photography awarded by Leeds Metropolitan University and is fluent in French, Spanish, and Czech.
RIASA Support Coaching staff
Each member of the coaching staff listed below will assist in game related and specific coaching sessions to support the RIASA Academy Coaches.
Lee Clapham
Having started his playing career on a 2 year scholarship at Bradford City in season 86/87, Lee went on to play semi professional football. Lee has coached the Bradford Schoolboys U19 team and lead out the team in their prestigious annual fixture against Glasgow Schoolboys at Hampden Park in Scotland. Lee has is presently working towards his UEFA B License. Lee has developed a number of younger players into the semi professional ranks to teams in the region.
Dave Morgan
Dave has played semi professional at Morecambe and Guiseley. During his playing career at Guiseley, Dave played at Wembley Stadium twice in back to back FA Vase finals in seasons 90/91 & 91/92. As 1st team coach at Harrogate Railway Athletic in season 07/08, Dave helped the club reach the 2nd round of the FA Cup. Dave is well know for his development of young players into the semi professional ranks in the region.
Matt Convey
As a former professional goalkeeper at Bradford City, Matt is now combining playing semi professional football as well as coaching upcoming goalkeepers. Matt joined Bradford City as a 10 year old schoolboy and progressed through the Centre of Excellence, Academy and eventually into the 1stTeam Squad.
Having been coached at the highest level by former England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn and former Wales goalkeeper Neville Southall, Matt is keen to pass on his knowledge and experience gained through his own goalkeeping coaching.
© Copyright 2009 IASA. All rights reserved.
