Hart Launches Gillette Coaching Programme

Gillette brand ambassador Joe Hart has launched the Gillette Great Start programme, in partnership with sports coach UK, which celebrates the role of coaching and supports coaches by offering grants awarded through the scheme. 

To mark the reopening of grant applications in a big year for football, the England and City stopper was joined by one of his first coaches, Dave Timmins, to discuss the importance of coaching.

Speaking at the launch event, Hart said: ‘I’m delighted to be involved in a campaign that celebrates the fantastic work that coaches do. The Gillette Great Start programme is great for football and for every sport.’ 

‘Without great coaches, there would be no great sportsmen and women. My coaches have taught me so much: from technical skills, fitness and conditioning, through to preparation, mental strength, determination and the will to succeed.’ 

Describing the contribution that Timmins made as one of his first coaches, Hart added: ‘Dave was instrumental in my early development, showed me how I could perform at my best, and played a big part in getting me where I am today.’

Timmins, who is now goalkeeping coach for Tranmere Rovers commented: ‘I’m lucky that I got to coach Joe when he was a young player just starting out in his career and it’s one of the great pleasures of being a coach seeing the players you work with go on to great things. The Great Start programme encourages more people to get into coaching and the more quality coaches that there are in the UK, the more likely it is that we produce more top sportspeople like Joe.’

To celebrate Gillette Great Start Programme a grant recipient from 2012 was given the opportunity to meet Joe and Dave to talk about their career. 

Nick Lander used his grant to get his FA Youth Award Module 2, a qualification which is specifically aimed at coaches working with younger children.  At the launch event he said: ‘It has been inspiring to meet both Joe Hart and Dave Timmins and to hear about the work they have done together to progress Joe’s career. It has motivated me to progress my career even further and to continue to help young footballers to do the same.’ 

Great Starts grants are available to both aspiring and amateur coaches who wish to further their qualifications. Applications for grants are now open via the brands Facebook page www.facebook.com/GilletteUK.