COACH JACK TO STEP DOWN AS U19 HEAD COACH AT END OF SEASON

Coach Jack led us to the only championship in Academy history in 2022.

As some of you will now know, I have made the decision to step down as Head Coach of the under 19 programme at the end of the 2026 season.

This is not a decision I have taken lightly, nor is it one that has been made because of wins, losses or anything that happens over the next few weeks. In truth, it is something I have been discussing internally with members of staff for the best part of a year.

I wanted to take the opportunity to explain why I have made this decision, thank the people who have made this journey possible, share my thoughts on the state of youth football, and talk about what comes next.

When I started this project seven years ago, it was never about winning championships, collecting trophies or building a reputation.

It was about giving kids an opportunity.

It was about creating a place where young people could come and be themselves. A place where they could find confidence, friendships, purpose and belonging through sport.

Over the last seven years I have been incredibly fortunate to watch hundreds of young people walk through our doors. I've seen nervous rookies become leaders. I've seen boys become young men. I've seen players who barely knew the rules of football go on to represent Great Britain, earn university opportunities, sign professional contracts in Europe and even spend time pursuing football opportunities in America.

Those moments have always meant more to me than any scoreboard ever could.

When I first started coaching, I made a promise to myself that I wanted to leave the game in a better place than I found it. Whether I have achieved that is for others to decide, but I hope that locally I have been able to make a small contribution to growing the sport and creating opportunities that simply did not exist before.

THANK YOU

There are far too many people to thank individually, but there are a few groups and people who deserve special recognition.

To every coach who has stood beside me over the years — thank you.

People see the games on a Saturday or Sunday. They see the training sessions. What they don't see are the hundreds of hours spent building playbooks, breaking down film, planning practices, driving around the country and sacrificing personal time for the benefit of the players. Some of you have even travelled to America with me to learn more about the game we love.You have followed me into every battle, every challenge and every crazy idea. I know the future of this club is in good hands because of the people who continue to give their time so selflessly.

To the real boss, Nicola — thank you. My partner in crime from day one. The welfare officer, the debt collector, the organiser, the bad cop whenever one was needed and the person who always seemed to be solving problems before I even knew they existed.The club simply would not exist in its current form without you.

To all of the parents — thank you. You trusted us with your sons. You drove them to training in the rain, sat through long road trips, spent weekends on sidelines and supported this programme with unwavering belief. The Knights family is one of the things I will miss most.

Even the vuvuzelas.

To my beautiful wife Sarah — thank you. Nobody has sacrificed more than you. You have tolerated missed family events, endless phone calls, late-night meetings, long drives across the country and countless weekends that revolved around football. You have supported every decision, every challenge and every dream. Without you, none of this would have been possible.

And finally, to every single player who has ever worn a Knights jersey.

Thank you.

Whether you played for seven years or seven minutes.
Whether you were there at BBOB when only a handful of players believed in the vision.
Whether you came back to the racecourse after Covid when the world had stopped and we were trying to rebuild.
Whether you were part of our championship-winning team in 2022.
Whether you're one of the young players leading the programme today.
You made this journey worthwhile.

People often tell me how much I helped them. The truth is that every single one of you helped me far more.

The car journeys to training.
The conversations after practice.
The laughs in the clubhouse.
The difficult moments.
The great moments.

The relationships and memories I have made through this sport will stay with me forever.

THE FUTURE OF THIS SPORT

I care deeply about youth American football in this country. That is exactly why it hurts to see some of the challenges the sport continues to face.

At club level, there are incredible volunteers giving up thousands of hours every year to create opportunities for young athletes. Coaches, team managers, welfare officers, photographers, medics, parents and countless others who simply love the sport and want to see it grow.

Unfortunately, over the last few seasons it has felt increasingly like youth and junior football has been treated as a second-class game.

The reality is that the pyramid of British American football is upside down.

Youth football should be the foundation upon which everything else is built. Instead, it often feels like it is an afterthought.

We ask volunteers to give up their weekends, spend their own money, travel the length of the country and dedicate countless hours behind the scenes, yet every year we seem to be expected to do more with less support.

Membership fees continue to rise, while the value returned to clubs appears to shrink. Ultimately, that risks driving away the very people this sport needs to survive and thrive — its volunteers.

Perhaps the biggest concern for me has been the decline in officiating standards.

Over the last couple of seasons, we have regularly struggled to secure full officiating crews for youth games. When officials have been present, there have been occasions where poor standards, inconsistency and perceived bias have had a direct impact on the experience of young athletes.

Young players dedicate months of preparation to these moments. They deserve games decided by the efforts of the players on the field, not by avoidable errors or a lack of resources.

The talent is here. The passion is here. The coaches and volunteers are here.

What we need now is leadership, investment and a renewed focus on developing the next generation of players, officials and volunteers.

I genuinely believe the best days of British American football can still be ahead of us.

But only if we are willing to make meaningful changes.

I hope those changes come. I hope the next generation of players and coaches inherit a better version of the game than we have today. And while I may no longer be leading from the sideline, I will be cheering those changes on as a supporter of the sport.

The FUTURE OF THE ACADEMY

Whilst you may not see me patrolling the sideline every Sunday, don't think for one second that I am disappearing.

The Knights remain a huge part of my life, and I will continue working behind the scenes to help drive the organisation forward.

My focus will now shift towards helping professionalise the academy even further.

I want to help create better game-day experiences for our players and supporters. I want to improve the value our members receive from being part of the Knights. I want to strengthen our commercial partnerships, increase investment into the programme and continue building an organisation that young people are proud to represent.

The vision has always been bigger than a football team.

It has been about creating opportunities.

It has been about creating experiences.

It has been about creating a place where young people can belong.

That vision doesn't end because I step away from coaching.

If anything, it gives me the opportunity to contribute in a different way and help lay foundations that will benefit Knights players for years to come.

Stepping down as Head Coach does not mean stepping away from the Knights. I will remain involved in the organisation and look forward to helping grow the club behind the scenes. The role may change, but my commitment to the Knights never will.

FINALLY…

Despite this announcement, there is still work to do.

This season is not over - Far from it.

I want to see as many former and current Knights players as possible at our final home tournament on July 4th.

Let's celebrate what this programme has built together.
Let's celebrate the memories.
Let's celebrate the people.
And let's finish this season the right way.

To whoever follows me as Head Coach, know that you will have my full support.

This programme is bigger than any one person. It always has been and it always will be.

The future of the Knights is incredibly bright.

There are outstanding coaches in place.
Outstanding young leaders coming through.
And a culture that has been built by hundreds of people over many years.

As my time as Head Coach comes to an end, don't be sad.
Look back with pride.
Remember the championships.
Remember the defeats.
Remember the road trips.
Remember the friendships.
Remember the moments when everyone doubted us, because those moments made the successes even sweeter.

Most importantly, remember that every one of you leaves a legacy behind.

A legacy that will continue long after any of us have gone.

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your journey.

I love you all.

⚔️ Once a Knight, Always a Knight. ⚔️

Coach Jack