Like many kids in the UK, I was born into a “football crazy” family. At the age of 5 I strapped on a pair of boots and took to the field for the very first time. My love affair with ‘the world game’ had begun.

From my humble beginnings of playing football for my local clubs, I was privileged to secure a spot in the Crystal Palace’s Youth Academy. I spent 2-3 years learning from some of the best coaches in England at the time. Andy Ritchie, my main coach at Crystal Palace, had played for Manchester United and Leeds United, and then went on to manage the England U18 Team. He was a wonderful coach and inspiring role-model.

My fondest memory of being at Crystal Palace was having the then captain of Crystal Palace, Gareth Southgate (former England First Team coach), run a coaching session with us. As a 14-year-old kid, I was mesmerised by Southgate’s quality as a player and leader.

Since my days at Crystal Palace, I have learnt a lot about the game we all love. And after moving to Australia to get married to my beautiful wife (she’s still beautiful!), I continued to play football for a bunch of teams. It was during these days in my 20s that I first started to dream about coaching kids in order to make a positive difference in their lives.

However, it wasn’t until 2020 – of course, a year made infamous by COVID – that I finally decided to take my experience as a player and channel it into coaching. With great excitement Football Life became a lived reality mid-way through 2021!

I simply cannot express in words my delight about coaching young athletes to not only become better players but also to become better people through the powerful medium of football!

This is my story.
And this is Football Life!

I  have been playing football for around 16 years, and I have loved the game since I started playing as a kid back in Brazil, where I was raised. But my passion for football goes beyond playing. My goal is not only to focus on technical skills but also to develop players in their confidence, character, and team mindset.

With Football Life, I am committed to helping players grow in their skills and improve how they play. Our goal is to invest and encourage each player, helping them to become the best version of themselves as footballers.” I want to create an environment where students can learn the game whilst having lots of fun!

Growing up in a household that loved sports, I was introduced to football at the age of 6. Watching my football idols play on the TV inspired me to dream big and the more I watched the greater my obsession with the game grew. 

Football quickly took over my life and before I knew it I was getting up early every Saturday morning to go play for my childhood club Marayong FC. During my time there, my teammates and coaches helped develop my character and skill. As I saw my progress my confidence slowly increased. At the age of 13, after 6 years with Marayong, I decided to follow a few of my friends and moved clubs to Blacktown Workers FC to play at a higher level. After 2 years with the club our team had successfully reached the finals however just fell short of lifting the trophy. 

At the age of 15, I moved to play for St Patricks FC, where I won my first championship, and the satisfaction of winning fueled my desire to become an even better player.

Unfortunately due to covid and lockdown, the winning momentum came to a sudden stop with my U16 comp getting canceled midway through the season. However, this was a blessing in disguise as this opened up an opportunity for me to play for a new team – APIA Leichhardt FC. This opportunity lead to me playing Division 1 football alongside amazing players and supportive coaches who brought the best out of me. 

The success of my football journey is thanks to all my coaches and teammates who have supported and challenged me to be the best version of myself.

I’m looking forward to applying my football knowledge and experience to my coaching so I can be a part of helping your kids become the best version of themselves, on and off the pitch.

I started playing soccer when I was 7 years old, along with my twin sister. I remember all my friends talking about joining a park soccer team, San Souci FC, and wanting to be a part of it.

Despite it being a mixed competition, I loved playing every minute of it. I loved the cheers of the parents when we scored a goal, or when we stopped one. I loved the excitement of waiting for the whistle to blow to start the game and rushing towards the ball. After playing park soccer for 3 years, I decided to take it a step further and was given an opportunity to play SAP at St George FC.

Since then, I have been playing at NPL level for 6 years and have developed not only as a player but also as a coach. Through my experience in playing football, I have seen the impact excellent coaches and poor coaches have had on players. This has fuelled my desire to be the best coach a player can have and to be someone who influences their growth in both their football and personal life. Football Life has given me the opportunity to do just that and help shape me into the best coach I can be.

I look forward to coaching your kids and seeing growth in all aspects of their life, especially football.

Football captured my attention since I was a young boy of 5 years old. Waking up early to watch an early Premier League game or gearing up to imprint footprints on the dewy grass on game day – game time was always a good time. Since those early beginnings, I have played football on those same fields surrounding the Hills for over 30+ years and at various levels within the club scene and some of those friendships continue today!

Being a coach at football life has been a privilege. It is a space where I get to walk (and run) alongside incredible students and encourage them in their next steps of success whether on the pitch or beyond. For some teams and individuals it has been to develop in their skill acquisition, for others coaching how to read the game, or learning how to grow a positive culture and mindset within teams. As a player, I bring fun through football to develop character and competency. It is my belief that both of these are required to know who you are and bring your best to the pitch with your teammates. I’ll see you on the pitch!

My name is Matt, I have been playing football since I was 4 years old. From under 11’s I have played NPL level football, now playing NPL level first grade. I have also coached at JDL level for a few years. Coaching at Football Life has allowed me to connect with players and develop their football ability in all areas of the game. I am inspired to pass on the knowledge I have gained over the years to the future generation of footballers. 

I grew up in a very sporty and active household. When I was younger my parents encouraged me to try a range of different sports but ultimately once I tried football there was no turning back. I played for 10+ years at both Club and NPL levels. This built my love of football to what it is today. 

Now as a coach I want to pass on my love of football to the next generation. Football Life is a great opportunity to do this as the environments created here are perfect for developing players both on and off the pitch.

I look forward to helping your kids develop as both players and individuals.

I am Brazilian and have had a great passion for football since I was very young. I grew up playing, and over the years the sport has become an essential part of my life. With time, I realized that football is much more than just a game — it is a tool for growth, connection, and transformation. In addition to developing my skills on the field, I discovered that I also love coaching and supporting the development of other players.

As a coach, my goal is to use football as a platform to teach values and build strong relationships, encouraging attitudes such as discipline, perseverance, and teamwork. I believe that sport can shape character and help young people find purpose in their journeys.

Through Football Life, I hope to continue contributing to the development of players, inspiring growth both on and off the field, and creating opportunities for them to become not only better athletes but also better people.