MEET THE TEAM


Demir Vavan

Founder & Academy Director


Demir Vavan founded the academy in 2012 and his role as Academy – Managing Director is to oversee the football & academic performance of the academy. He holds the UEFA Licensed coaching qualification and has had over 10 years’ experience working with professional football clubs including: AFC Bournemouth, Birmingham City FC, & Northampton Town FC. With an impressive coaching career to date Demir has worked with many International, Premier League & English football league players who have gone onto play at the highest levels in the game. With a proven track record in developing youth players Demir specialises in 1-2-1 training along with progressing players onto professional clubs via the Future Pro Academy recruitment programme.


Mark Muddyman

Head of Higher Education & Academy Coach


UEFA A Licensed Coach with Over 15 years’ experience in the professional academy system. Mark has worked with players including Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho during his time at Birmingham City FC & Watford FC academy. Mark holds a BSc (Hons) in Physical Education & Sports Coaching Science.


David Phillips

Lead Coach


UEFA A Licensed Coach, Ex Wales Senior International player with over 600 professional league games at club level. Teams represented include Manchester City FC, Nottingham Forest FC, and Coventry City FC amongst many others. Over 20 years' experience coaching in the professional academy and college environment with a proven track record developing players such as Callum Wilson & Will Hughes amongst many others.


Matthew Coley

Academy Coach / GK Coach / FE Lecturer


UEFA A Licensed Coach with over 10 years' coaching experience. MSc Sports Coaching and current PHD Student. Matt is a part-time Coach at Northampton Town FC Academy and has a background working in performance analysis with The FA.


Sophie Bourton

FE Lead Lecturer & Female Lead Coach


UEFA B Licensed Coach with over 10 years' coaching experience. Sophie holds a BSc Honours in Sports & Exercise Science. Sophie has over 8 years' experience teaching in the further education sector with ages 16-19.


JAMIE KRUMINS

Football Operations Lead & Academy Coach


UEFA B Licensed Coach with over 10 years' coaching experience. Jamie is a part-time coach at Coventry City FC Academy working in the Foundation / Youth Development Phase.


Callum Maspers

Marketing & Recruitment


Over 5 years' experience in Digital Marketing and Operations. Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing & Level 3 Personal Trainer Certification.


Kirk Holland

Head of Medical / Physio


Professor of physiotherapy, Kirk's background includes working at Birmingham City FC where he has worked with academy players and now heads up the ASCEND clinic working in partnership with Coventry Sphinx FC.


Tom Bates

Performance Psychologist Consultant


UEFA A Licensed Coach with over 20 years’ experience working with world-class elite professional athletes. Tom has worked with a number of elite professional clubs including Aston Villa FC, Brentford FC and West Bromwich Albion FC amongst many others. Tom is a specialist in practising Sport Psychology.