Scotland to Spain, via Bristol: Jake's journey

Jake Brown has been on a journey, in many senses of the well-worn word. He hadn't set out to be a coach - but after taking his first off-field role as kitman of the Scotland women's national team, with his sister Frankie in the team, he now holds the Uefa B licence and has helped a number of young female players become professionals. And Jake has also kept on the move himself, first heading south to England for a spell coaching in the Bristol City Women academy before taking on a different soccer culture entirely in Spain. He is now based in Madrid, coaching the amatuers of FC Britanico as well as local youth players. We caught up with Jake to discuss how he got where he is today...

 

SCW: Give us an overview of your coaching journey to date...

JB: "I never intended to be a coach. I have always loved football and when my sister and I were young, we played together. “When I was 22, my mum passed away. It made me stop and think ‘where am I going?’. I'd done a business degree and I said, ‘I want to explore a little more’. “So I started working with the Scotland women's national team as an administrator and kitman, which honestly was the best job in the world. Me and my sister are very close, so it was a great time for us to be close together as a family. “I was exposed to elite professional players and the head coach and her assistant, Anna Signeul and Ann-Helen Grahm, had a lasting effect on me. "This was almost 10 years ago but I still remember the way they did their session plans, the way they had every little detail set up. They were just so inspiring. “It was like being part of a big family. It was a difficult time personally and for our family, and it felt like I was so supported by players and other staff. And obviously being close to my sister was amazing. “I started to do my first coaching qualification in Scotland, then I moved down to Bristol [south-west England]. "My sister was playing for Bristol City at the time and I found a nice community within football. I started to coach grassroots on Saturdays and Wednesdays with Clifton United under-7s and under-15s. “It was a great way to start because with under-7s, you learn while they learn. I took them until they were under-11s and I learned a lot about each age group.

"It was a great way to start because, with under-7s, you learn while they learn..."

“I went down an academy route as well, with Bristol City Women. I started with the under-10s, then the under-16s and then worked with some of the under-21s. "With the under-16s, we had two very good seasons. We got to the FA Girls’ Plate final but unfortunately that was Covid year and the final was cancelled, so we didn't get to play against Manchester United. “That was a group of fantastic young women who are now flourishing and there's a few in the Bristol City first team. I'm very proud, because I can see how much they've developed. We created a family environment. “That is always what I'm striving for, to make sure people are supporting each other and it feels like a safe environment where people can challenge, or just feel a bit free. "When they're free, they can learn, and when they feel safe, they can learn. That's always been my philosophy."