Notts football coach inspires team with ‘online race’ to Paris

James Spriggs has dubbed himself the "isolation coach" and opened a WhatsApp group for members of the Bagthorpe Athletic FC Under 15's who play in the Derby City League - Div 1.

"When I saw the guy climb Mount Everest on his staircase, I wondered if we could get to Paris in a week," he said. "We're up to Dover in two days! We're going to see how far we can get.

“Throughout this season the players have worked hard and have had to battle against frozen pitches, flooding and now the coronavirus.

“Naturally, the players are frustrated. The roll of the coach is simple, it’s my job to keep the team together, no matter what. They needed to refocus and work towards a different goal.

“We may not be able to meet but that doesn’t mean that we can’t continue to train together.

“I post a WhatsApp video of a training drill on both the days that we would normally train and play. The players then get points if their parents or carers post a photo or video clip of them completing the drill.

“They get bonus points if they are training in their football kit! The players have free rein to post their own individual drills throughout the week.

“We have had all sorts, including toilet roll kick-ups, dribbling around tins of food and kicking footballs into dustbins. The banter has been flying around too, which is great.

“Some of the parents seem more interested in commenting on each others wallpaper and curtains, which seems a little odd to me, but whatever keeps the team spirit going!”

"They still feel like a team even if they can't meet each other," said Gemma Hollingworth, whose 15-year-old son Thomas plays for Bagthorpe. "It's definitely made a difference in our house.

"All the kids are getting involved - it's absolutely amazing."

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