Robin Russell

Robin Russell
Founder, Chairman and CEO
Sports Path

web: www.sportspath.com
email: rrussell@sportspath.com
twitter:  @sportspath
Soccer Interactive Profile: http://community.soccerinteractive.com/profile/RobinRussell

Robin Russell

Robin is the former Regional Coach, Assistant Director of Coaching and Technical Coordinator of the English FA and currently UEFA’s Football Development Consultant

He was born in Denmark of Scottish parents, the son of former Bury FC and Tranmere Rovers FC Manager – Dave Russell

Robin represented English Universities (UAU) and played part-time football for Tamworth and Paget Rangers whilst teaching in Birmingham before joining the FA in 1978

Whilst at the FA he was responsible for:

• The establishment in the 1980’s of the FA’s Football Development Program including the creation of Football in The Community Projects and the initiation of Funweeks, the Soccer Star Scheme and Mini-Soccer.
• The FA’s Coach Education Program from 1997 – 2003 including the launch of the new FA/UEFA Courses as well as the FA Coaches Association, the Insight Journal, The FA Youth Coaches Course, The FA Academy Managers Course and UEFA Pro License Course.
• In 1997 together with Howard Wilkinson, the FA’s Technical Director, co-drafting and implementing the FA’s Strategic Plan for all Young Footballers: ’The Charter for Quality’ which included the creation of Academies and Charter Standard Clubs
• The Monitoring of Youth Football Academies in England from 1997 – 2005
• The creation in 2003 of FA Learning Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary company of the Football Association to co-ordinate and delivers all the FA’s Educational Services. FA Learning now provides over 20 Online Courses for Coaches, Referees, Administrators in Generic and Soccer Specific subjects including Psychology, Fitness, Child Protection, and Refereeing

Robin left fulltime employment at FA in 2005 to found Sports Path™ now the world’s leading provider of soccer e-learning (www.sportspath.com)

In 2005 Robin was appointed UEFA’s first Football Development Consultant and in 2007 appointed Consultant to the English FA’s Professional Youth Development Group

Clients of Sports Path™ also include FIFA, the English League Managers Association ( LMA) , NSCAA ( National Soccer Coaches Association of America) The Football Associations of ,Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Northern Ireland as well as numerous State Soccer Associations in the USA e.g. California,Massacheusetts, New York West, Pennsylvania West and Illinois.