English Schools' Football Association

Chairman: Mike Coyne

Mike Coyne now lives and works in the West Country but his roots are firmly in the Midlands. Mike was a pupil at St Mary’s Primary School in Brewood, Staffordshire and later at Blessed William Howard High School in Stafford.

During his years at primary school, Mike developed his love of football and can recall the infrequent football matches against local village schools with great affection. At secondary school his love of football continued and he was a member of his house and school team. During his teenage years Mike and some friends started a village football team. The team was organised, the pitch acquired and the Walsall Junior League entered before Mike broke the news to his father that an adult was needed to run the team, and from that moment Coven Celtic were born. This team stayed together and played through all ages of the Walsall Junior League and later moved into the Walsall Minor league where they won the league and were runners up in the cup. Not bad for a bunch of lads who began with a number of double figure defeats at 12 years of age.

Mike would admit that he was a modest footballer in terms of ability during his playing days in local football in the West Midlands and in Somerset. He always played for the love of the game, a love that he has carried into coaching and administration. Mike’s Midland background has made him a die-hard West Brom supporter for the past forty plus years. He has surrendered his season ticket for his year as chairman – a great sacrifice. After completing his A levels Mike went on to Dudley Teacher Training College where he completed a B.ED. During this time he represented the college at football and rugby.

Mike’s first teaching post was at St Anne’s Primary School in Weeping Cross, Stafford. Here he was the token male teacher and his involvement with schools’ football began running the school team. After 2 years in Stafford Mike made his move to the West Country. He enjoyed spells at St George’s School and Priorswood School in Taunton before becoming the deputy head at East Coker Primary School, near Yeovil, in 1991. During this time Mike took over the running of the Somerset Primary Schools’ Competition and became an active member of the Somerset Schools’ FA. After four years as Deputy Head, Mike gained his first primary headship at Barwick Primary School near Yeovil. The school had only 54 pupils and Mike’s class was the whole of KS2 – 34 in total. This period was a great learning experience for Mike and tested his coaching skills as there were only 3 children in Year Six, and only two of them liked football!

Mike moved on in 1998 to become the headteacher at Martock Primary School between Yeovil and Taunton. He spent 10 happy years at Martock and became more involved in schools’ football, now running some of the South West Regional Finals with Geoff Lee. It was at one of these events that Geoff managed to convince Mike that the ESFA council was a rewarding experience – so he knows who to blame. In 2005 Mike became Somerset’s first ESFA Council Member.

In 2008 Mike moved to Hanham Abbots Junior School where he is proud to be the headteacher. Hanham is on the edge of Bristol and falls in the county of South Gloucestershire. The school has a great sporting tradition and Mike has started the job of building on this success. Mike has the great support of his family. His wife Lynne and his daughters Emily and Alice have been understanding during the many hours devoted to football over the last 22 years.

In 2009 Mike was delighted when the governors supported his nomination to be vice chair of the ESFA. Although now a teacher in South Gloucestershire, Mike still lives in Somerset and regards himself as a Somerset man. As such he is proud to be the first Somerset based teacher to become Chairman of the ESFA.