Scott’s got the world at his feet

A careeer in football would be a dream job for many young boys growing up but for Islandmagee man Scott Hunter it’s a reality, writes Russell Keers.
Scott HunterScott Hunter
Scott Hunter

Scott is setting off on his second year as a football coach in New York.

A former pupil of Larne Grammar and Ulidia Integrated College, he knew he wanted to be a football coach while he was a teenager.

“I first realised I wanted to be a coach when I was 16 after becoming frustrated with coaching I was receiving at club level,” the 24-year-old explained.

While at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, from where he graduated with a degree in Sports Management, Scott got his break when he began coaching at the Community and Academy levels at Preston North End. It gave him the opportunity to gain experience from former Premier League manager, Phil Brown.

“He invited me to study his first-team sessions at Springfields, which was a great experience,” Scott said.

In America, his main role is coaching girls in an under-12 team, although he also coaches children from the age of three to teenagers aged 18.

“I find it really refreshing to see just how good the under-12 girls can be when there is coaching available to them.”

Since graduating he has coached at Stevenage United, as well as the reserve team of Crusaders.

In the future he has a number of aspirations for his coaching career.

“I want to continue coaching at a high level in the United States and possibly move into the business side of the game, using my Sports Management degree in a fuller capacity,” Scott added.