Excitement is building for UEFA EURO 2024, which kicks off later this week. But what about football at Wellington College? Miles B (L6) fills us in through his article recently published in The Wellingtonian.
It is undeniable that football at Wellington College has been on the rise over the past few years. Whether through teams becoming more competitive, fixture lists getting stronger, or participation growing year on year, the football programme at Wellington has developed into an exciting place. But why has the football club come to be in such a promising position?
The 2023-24 academic and sporting year has already seen some crucial developments to the football programme at the College, with football coach Mr Pritchard coming in as Head of Football Development, the club has progressed massively. As a result of top-quality coaching to all teams, as well as 1-1 sessions with individual players, the club is now in a constant state of development from U14s up to 1st XI level. Speaking to Head of Football Mr O’Brien, I gained interesting insight into the specific reasons for the rise of the club. Firstly, he noted that ‘credit must go to Mr Craig for laying the foundations for a successful football club. After that I just had to develop the strong foundations in order to take the club to the next level’. Another thing that Mr O’Brien has done to grow the club is to enhance an environment where people not only enjoy their football, but are stretched and challenged, so they develop their game as a footballer whilst not feeling overly pressured to perform. Furthermore, Mr O’Brien is quick to emphasise the role that the teaching staff who coach teams have on the development of the club. Having an array of experienced teachers who love coaching football teams helps every player, no matter their level, have a positive experience of football. Mr O’Brien being at the forefront of a group of many talented staff-coaches, as well as several specialised football coaches has led the boys and girls who go out to play every Saturday being best equipped to play their best game and enjoy themselves.
One thing that is clear is that despite the rise of the football club, is that there is no competition with the rugby club. Rather, lessons have been learned from the historic success of Wellington’s rugby teams and the standards they uphold. Holding players accountable all throughout the club and Mr O’Brien being at the forefront and leading a consistent message are just a few of the things that have been taken over from the way things are done with the Rugby Club.In addition, the football club has been innovating and growing in its own ways, such as through an exciting partnership with professional side Reading Football Club. This partnership, which began in the Lent Term of 2024, involved three UEFA A-Licensed coaches coming in to assist the boys with their training and development.
One thing driving this development is the sheer number of boys and girls who want to play football each week. This season, the club puts out 14 teams every Saturday as opposed to just 3 last season. Coping with the newfound demand of boys and girls wanting to play football and represent the college has been a challenge, but has inspired change and led to the football club being bigger and more competitive than ever before. The emphasis Mr O’Brien and the other football staff place on team sports such as football co-existing with academic life at the college and being an outlet to de-stress has led to an environment where people try their hardest and compete, but also look forward to each football session and genuinely enjoy their sport.
And for Mr O’Brien, it is this which is the key thing. Emphasising performance, development and enjoyment over results has led to a football club which really feels like a community within the wider college, and this is something that Mr O’Brien is keen to cultivate and develop. When I asked him what his metrics for success are for the club over the next five years, he said ‘it is simply getting the maximum amount of boys and girls that we possibly can out to play each week’. This vision encompasses exciting plans to support two senior girls teams and two junior girls teams across both terms. Obviously there are goals for all the teams to be competitive in their respective leagues, however if boys and girls enjoy their football, and feel equipped to pursue football and sport further in later life whether at University or just casually after work with friends, then that, for Mr O’Brien, would be a success. There is no doubt as to the extent of the growth of football at the college over the last five years, and everyone at the college is keen to see the progression and the direction the club will continue to go in.