In collaboration with Brighton & Hove Albion and The FA, we recently hosted a compelling Coaching Masterclass led by Kylrn Brooks-Lynch and Daniel Fenner, in celebration of October’s Black History Month.

We interviewed Daniel Fenner recently about his role at The FA as a Coach Developer and the amazing work he is doing to support underrepresented groups in the coaching community.

Brooks-Lynch, who serves as a Youth Development Phase Coach, shared his journey through the football coaching world, discussing the obstacles he has encountered as a Black coach and how resilience and continuous self-improvement have shaped his career.

Participants learned about Brooks-Lynch's path, from realising he wouldn't become a professional footballer to his varied experiences in sports education, performance analysis, and non-league coaching, culminating in a transformative role through the Premier League's Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme (CIDS).

He highlighted the value of continuous personal learning & development, adapting to different roles and age groups, as well as the importance of communication skills, leadership, and creating a supportive environment for players.

This event not only highlighted Brooks-Lynch’s personal and professional development but also inspired young and aspiring coaches from historically underrepresented backgrounds by underlining the importance of determination and community support in overcoming industry barriers.

Abdulbasit Abdulrahman, a coach for Gamechangers added “This was a wonderful event that was full of learning and networking.

“Sussex County FA gave us the opportunity to meet and interact with coaches in an elite football environment as well meeting some FA coaches too, some of whom I watch on the FA YouTube channel!

“Listening to Ky’s journey and how he worked to get himself into Brighton and other football clubs was inspiring. Getting to watch him and Dan [Fenner] coaching also helped me understand that my journey to elite football coaching has started on the right path, and most importantly I do not have to be a former professional player to make it into that environment.

“So, on behalf of all of us at Gamechangers we say thank you to Sussex County FA, The FA, and Brighton & Hove Albion. It was great finally meeting Abi in person and I’m still thanking her for capturing the moment I met Fabian Hürzeler!”

For further information about our equality and inclusion work, please contact Development:

Development
T: 01903 766855
E: Development@SussexFA.com