Diagram showing a tilt shift lens with labels for different parts.

OUR TEAM

World-Class Staff, Proven Pathways

Our full-time coaching staff and wider team bring elite experience from the Premier League, La Liga, and Women’s Super League. With backgrounds in football, education, and business, they deliver excellence whilst being fully invested in each player’s journey. Having played and coached at the highest levels, they know what it takes to reach the top

Our Team by Numbers

1000+

professional matches played across the Premier League, Football League, La Liga, and Women’s Super League

100+

international caps for senior national teams

20+

UEFA A and B Licence holders across outfield and goalkeeping, plus advanced qualifications in psychology, sport science, physiotherapy, and performance analysis

40+

roles held at leading professional football academies and football clubs from London, Spain, and across Europe

25+

academic experts with doctorates, master’s degrees, and accreditations from top universities such as Loughborough, Birmingham, and Exeter

Together, our staff bring world-class expertise to support every player’s journey - on the pitch, in the classroom, and beyond.

LEADERSHIP

Greg Thurstans

CEO | Co-Founder

Greg Thurstans is a UEFA ‘A’ Licence coach, qualified goalkeeping coach, and former Crystal Palace Academy coach who also scouted for Brighton FC. As one of the youngest to chair both UEFA “A” Licence courses, he co-founded AF Global Football to create pathways that develop players both academically and athletically.

Matthew Rose

COO | Co-Founder

Matthew Rose is a former Arsenal first-team player and England U21 international with over 300 appearances for QPR. After heading Arsenal’s European Academy and coaching Barnsley FC’s first team, he co-founded AF Global Football, where he leads operations and designs programmes that prepare players for success on and off the pitch.

Joe Sutton

Head of Futures

Joe is a high-performance leader with experience at Arsenal, Manchester United, Brighton, Brentford, and Fulham. He’s worked with elite talent, including Bukayo Saka, and specialises in Advanced Youth Award, and FA Talecreating professional, US College, and UK University pathways. Joe holds the UEFA A Licence, FA nt ID Level 4 in Leadership & Management

Head of People & Culture

Gemma has extensive international experience leading people strategy and cultural transformation in elite sport and beyond. She previously served as Head of People and Culture at Birmingham City FC, working with leadership teams to build inclusive, high-performing environments. A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and professional business coach, Gemma combines deep HR expertise with practical insight into the demands of football organisations.

Gemma Richardson

Brett Morris

Director of Strength & Conditioning

Brett holds a First-Class BSc in Sport and Exercise Science and an MRes in Sport and Exercise. He has over seven years’ experience working with players from grassroots to senior professionals. Brett has was formerly part of the sport science team at Wolverhampton Wanderers, a category 1 Premier League Academy.

Luke Astley

Director of Coaching

Luke is a former youth player with Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion. A UEFA A Licence coach, he has worked as Academy Manager at Kidderminster Harriers and as an FA Coach Developer. Luke brings deep expertise in player development and education, with experience from category 1 Premier League Professional Academies.

LONDON, UK

Marvin Williams

Director of Football | London
Marvin is a former professional footballer with Brentford, Millwall, and Yeovil. He has held academy leadership roles including Academy Manager at Sutton United and Assistant Academy Manager at Ipswich Town. A UEFA A Licence coach with EAM certification, Marvin brings extensive experience in player development and academy management.
Kayleigh Barton

Head of Girls Football | London
Kayleigh is a former professional footballer with over 20 years’ experience at the highest level. She represented Yeovil Town, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Charlton Athletic, while earning 89 caps for the Wales National Team. A UEFA A Licence coach, Kayleigh now applies her expertise to developing players in the women’s game, including with the Welsh National Team setup.
Jermaine McGlashan

Elite Development Coach | London
Jermaine is a former professional footballer who represented Cheltenham Town, Gillingham, and Wrexham during a successful career in the Football League and National League. Transitioning into coaching, he has worked with leading academies including Brighton & Hove Albion, Gillingham, and Tottenham Hotspur. A UEFA A Licence coach with the Advanced Youth Award, Jermaine brings elite-level knowledge and professionalism to player development.
Neale Manning

Head of Goalkeeping | London
Neale has over 12 years of experience coaching goalkeepers at Chelsea, West Ham, and Charlton Athletic. He is currently a Goalkeeper Scout for Manchester City. Neale holds both the UEFA B Outfield and Goalkeeping Licences, underlining his expertise in goalkeeper development.
Jake Locker

Head of Sport Science | London
Jake holds an MSc in Strength and Conditioning from Loughborough University. A former strength and conditioning coach at Leicester City FC, he is working towards UKSCA and BASES accreditation. Jake specialises in applying sport science principles to optimise player performance and development.
Tiggy Teare

Mental Performance Lead | London
Tiggy is a sports psychology coach and counsellor specialising in resilience, confidence, and focus. She has worked across multiple sports, including elite experience with Saracens Rugby Club, and holds SEPAR accreditation with BASES. Combining one-to-one support, workshops, and counselling, Tiggy helps athletes enhance wellbeing, motivation, and performance.
Will Burke

Physiotherapist | London
Will is an MSc-qualified Chartered Physiotherapist and CEO of Wells Physiotherapy Clinic. He specialises in sports injury, rehabilitation, and return-to-play support. Will brings clinical expertise and a strong focus on athlete wellbeing.
Amelie Lewis

Assistant Sport Science & Performance Analysis | London

Amelie is a Psychology with Sport and Exercise Science undergraduate at the University of Exeter. She has excelled academically, earning the Dean’s Commendation Award, and gained practical experience with Exeter City FC Academy and Exeter City Community Trust. A qualified Mental Health First Aider, Amelie combines academic rigour with hands-on expertise in sport, wellbeing, and leadership.

SOUTHWEST, UK

Ricky Wellard

Director of Football | South West
Ricky is a former professional footballer with AFC Wimbledon and Cambridge United. A UEFA A Licence coach, he previously led academy programmes at Premier League club AFC Bournemouth. Ricky specialises in youth development and supporting players in their transition to the professional game.
Abbie Britton

Head of Girls Football | South West
Abbie is a former Wales international with over 15 years of experience in the game. A UEFA B Licence coach, she has been pivotal in Exeter City Women’s rise through both academy and first-team roles. Abbie is passionate about player development and the growth of the women’s game.
Elliott Frear

Elite Development Coach | South West
Elliott enjoyed a 16-year professional playing career with Exeter City, Motherwell, and Heart of Midlothian, alongside earning seven England C caps. Following retirement, he moved into coaching and holds the UEFA B Licence. He has coached at Exeter University, developing high-performing student-athletes, and brings a wealth of experience in mentoring players.
Andrew Sowden-Bird

Head of Goalkeeping | South West
Andrew progressed through the Exeter City Academy from Under-9s to Under-18s, gaining first-team experience in the FA Cup and Papa Johns Trophy. Alongside his playing career in non-league football, he coaches goalkeepers at Exeter City Academy and delivers one-to-one sessions for both goalkeepers and outfield players. Andrew focuses on building strong coach–athlete relationships and delivering high-quality, enjoyable sessions.
Jordan Hayman

Mental Performance Lead | South West
Jordan holds a Doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology and is a member of the BPS and AASP. He has extensive experience supporting elite footballers with their mental performance. Jordan specialises in applying psychological principles to enhance resilience, focus, and wellbeing.
Laura Whiteoak

Physiotherapist | South West
Laura is a Chartered Physiotherapist with extensive experience across elite sport and education. She specialises in injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance support. Laura takes a holistic approach to athlete care, combining medical expertise with an understanding of player development in educational settings.
Jeremiah Achina

Assistant Sport Science & Performance Analysis | South West
Jeremiah is a Sport and Exercise Science student at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. He has experience in football coaching, youth mentoring, and performance analysis, with a strong interest in strength and conditioning. Jeremiah is passionate about athlete welfare, recovery, and applying sport science to support both physical and mental development.

MARKETING

Keiran Anderson

Head of Brand & Marketing

25+ yrs leading brand, marketing and digital innovation across sports and lifestyle sectors. Specialist in elevating fan engagement, sponsorship, and campaign strategy, integrating 360° brand experiences and digital-first storytelling. Proven record growing global audiences and commercial value through strategic content, live events, and cross‑platform campaigns.

Jude Samuel

Head of Digital Production

20+ yrs in sports & entertainment leading digital, brand, and talent. Ex-Bellator & ViacomCBS. Expert in 360° campaigns, social growth, creative content, and Customer Engagement & Experience. Proven ROI across live events, talent media, and digital platforms.

FOUNDATION
TRUSTEES

Paul Barnett

Finance & Chair
Paul is the COO of one of the biggest international school groups in the world. His knowledge of the education sector is remarkable. Paul has a high-level understanding of finance working for Fulcrum and manages UHNW clients and families across Europe and beyond who require cross-border tax and investment planning. Previously senior manager for 2 of the largest international banks across Europe and The Middle East. Paul’s roles have focused on reinforcing existing relationships, as well as forging new partnerships, globally.
Louise Baxter MBE

Fundraising
Louise Baxter is a nationally recognised consumer protection leader with over 20 years’ experience advocating for vulnerable communities. Her expertise spans regulation, fraud prevention, and safeguarding across sectors. She chairs two national Consumer Protection Panels and serves as a Non-Executive Director at TrustMark and The Property Ombudsman, promoting safer, more inclusive services. As CEO of Consumer Friend, she leads outreach and training to empower individuals with the knowledge to protect themselves and others. A trusted media contributor and campaigner for fairness, resilience, and equality, Louise was awarded an MBE in 2017 for protecting vulnerable consumers from financial abuse.
Emma Thompson

Legal
Emma is a Managing Partner at leading UK law firm Thackray Williams. Emma is also Head of the Education, Employment and Corporate & Commercial sector and oversees strategic recruitment. As a qualified lawyer with over 18 years’ experience in employment law, Emma’s expertise in this field is recognised by being personally listed as a ‘leading individual’ for employment law in Chambers. This year Emma was awarded the Growth Award at the Kent Women In Business Awards 2025 having led the Commercial Group to achieve 46% year-on-year growth in turnover for the first six months of last year.
Grant Best

Media & Entertainment
Grant is a BAFTA and Sports Emmy-winning producer and director, with a distinguished career as an executive at some of the world’s leading sports broadcasters, including Sky, ESPN, Disney, BT Sport (now TNT Sports), BBC, and DAZN. He produced the BAFTA-winning Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum & Dad (2017), O Fenômeno (2022), chronicling Ronaldo Nazário’s World Cup story, and La Guerra Civil (2022), by Eva Longoria, which premiered at Sundance.
Teddie Levenfiche

Marketing
Teddie is a member of Forbes 30 under 30, founder of PerfectTed the UK’s fastest- growing energy drink. He has had a meteoric journey from getting 5 offers in Dragons’ Den, to investment from Steven Bartlett, and now becoming the new sponsor to Steven’s podcast, Diary of a CEO. Steven Bartlett has called Perfect Ted his most successful investment.
Tony Asghar

Football
Tony is a highly innovative and creative sports executive and high performance specialist with over 25 years experience within global elite football as a consultant to elite sporting organisations, professional football clubs, governing bodies and business leaders. Brokered and advised on a number of high profile football club acquisition’s in the UK, France, USA, Spain and Italy. Carrying out full club diagnostics and performance plans. Executive coach for a number of high profile managers and football staff from the EPL, Championship, La Liga and other associations and networks throughout the world.