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National Recognition for Coach Core Apprentice Bailey Gray

Coach Core apprentice Bailey Gray has reached the second round of trials for the England Cerebral Palsy squad. In a rigorous open trial at St George’s Park involving over 40 players, Bailey was one of just a handful of players picked out for further assessment with a view to possibly joining the squad. Bailey had a two hour trial, spread across small-sided games for the selection staff to monitor the full range of football aptitude.

Bailey has now progressed to the second stage which will involve a further training session & eligibility for the national teams. Whatever happens next for Bailey, it is a fantastic achievement to get this far and we are all very proud of him at Devon FA & Torquay United.

It has been an impressive couple of months for Bailey, who was recently a national award winner with a special commendation for his disability work with the Torquay United Inspirations & the Devon Ability Counts League. The Awards Ceremony was at Loughborough University as part of the Coach Core apprenticeship national awards 2018. Bailey came out on top in the whole country for his work in disability football. The award was presented by Jake Humphrey (TV presenter) and Eboni Beckford- Chambers (England Netball player)

Bailey commented: “It's a huge honour for me to receive this award early in my coaching career and it’s a positive sign that I must be doing well to achieve this. I got the award for all my work with coaching Torquay United Inspirations which I have been coaching with twice a week for a year now, I enjoy it very much and working the role alongside the Ability Counts League. I didn’t not expect to win it due to how many people where there from other places across the UK”

Bailey has been working as a Coach Core apprentice with Devon FA & Torquay United CST for the last 12 months. In that time, Bailey has supported the County FA’s Charter Standard programme working with grassroots clubs & developing himself as a coach with Torquay United’s community department. This varied experience with our organisations has helped Bailey on his first step in the sports industry & this opportunity has been provided by the Royal Foundation’s Coach Core programme.

Bailey completes his Coach Core apprenticeship this week & we wish Bailey well in his next step with Torquay United leading on the Junior Disability programme in South Devon.

For more information about our Coach Core apprenticeships, please contact: Howard Shaddick howard.shaddick@devonfa.com

bailey and paul

Left to Right (Devon FA CEO, Paul Morrison & Bailey Gray)

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