What was your biggest fear when you decided to become a scout?
The only slight fear that I had was the length of time and difficulty in breaking into the industry in a paid role. It requires a lot of patience, dedication and willingness to make a lot of sacrifices due to the heavily unsociable hours. So it was a case of being wary of possible committing a lot of time and effort and not getting any form of self reward.
Why scouting? Any desire to coach or be an intermediary?
I tried coaching initially, I enjoyed the self development and improving people on the training pitch, but then match days I felt had too much politics and weren’t that enjoyable, more stressful and didn’t suit my personality, so I was recommended to take a look at scouting because it fit my traits and way of working by a former academy coach of mine and it went from there. Intermediary work is something I have considered and would never rule out, but my focus is within a club environment rather than individuals to be honest at this moment.
What skill or decision opened up the most doors for you when you started out?
The willingness to invest in myself and networking alongside that. I reached out to many people within the game for shadowing opportunities, feedback on my work, and also purchased software’s to aid my work and show a desire to push myself and further my progression. I was of the belief of if you’re not willing to invest in yourself, why would a club want to invest their money/budget into you?
What is a common misconception about "getting your foot in the door" to become a scout?
Scouting qualifications are required. They aren’t. They can help you to an extent and also help you progress up the ladder once in the game, but that is more down to the willingness to invest in your own development, and the networking opportunities, than the actual qualifications themselves I believe. Networking and getting yourself out there is a better way to get in.
What is the worst advice you've received in becoming a competent scout?
I wouldn’t say I’ve really had much bad advice so far, mainly due to being fairly head strong and I tend to remember the useful advice and information I receive from people a lot more. If anything, possibly someone once said to me “you need a degree in some form to get a real opportunity”, which I don’t have, and I know a large amount of people who don’t too!
What player have you learned the most about the complete spectrum of scouting? (Not a player you "found" but more so a player that revealed to you what was important and maybe what you were good at recognizing.)
I won’t name individuals due to the fact they might possibly still be on my lists, but especially in the u23 competitions within the U.K. you see it a lot where someone at 15/16 is an average skilled individual at the time, but then as they grow into their body, get exposed to higher quality individuals in the u23 competition and EFL Trophy, they learn from their experiences and blossom quickly and you can see the match intelligence and they become top footballers as a result because they have the right mentality to go with the technical skills, and are capable of constantly stepping up the levels they are exposed to and their performance levels do not drop.
Tell me about the grind. Everybody wants to find the next Richarlison but nobody talks about hours spent traveling, watching games live & in person, family and friends you have to neglect to get your work done. How do you manage that part of your job?
It’s just something you have to do! If you want to get into a decent level of scouting and have the full social life, do things with friends who just work the 9-5 jobs, it just isn’t possible. But there is a balance there, and you do still get to enjoy a lot of the “normal” side of life.
The key to this is having the right social circle and understanding partner and family around you. I am fortunate in that I did work before scouting that I hated, and it made me miserable and unbearable to be around at times, but saved money to allow me to pursue scouting because football is my major passion, and everyone around me acknowledges that in order for me to get the best version out of myself I need to be happy, and football and scouting makes me happy, you live your life to make yourself happy, not everyone else.
Of course you feel like you are missing out on some events, but you know that will be the case when you sign up for the industry. I’ve missed family birthdays, celebrations etc to make sure I am at a match, but I will still also make sure I have 1-2 days completely away from football each week if I can in order to see people, socialise and do the day to day necessities.
What do chief scouts, technical/sporting directors value most in scouts?
Honesty. Respect. Personal skills. Stubbornness (to an extent, if you believe in something, they want you to back yourself). Building a real mutual working appreciation for each other is massive, and acknowledging how to get the best out of each other from a scouting perspective. Then obviously the ability to display the correct level of football knowledge and a willingness to further the club and yourself as a scout.
How have you improved the most as a scout?
Speaking/networking to other scouts and intermediaries away from my club. Every club works differently, even if it is only tiny details. Every scouts see’s slightly different things, so being open to hearing from these people and how they work and what they see has allowed me to incorporate things into my way of scouting and being able to identify things I might not have previously thought about. Being open to methods and ideas without question was the best way for me to improve myself.
What are your ultimate aspirations in scouting and football?
To gain a full time paid position within the industry! This is my passion, something I have devoted my life to for around half a decade, I’ve proved myself now and a number of years with contracted/paid experience at an elite level/environment.
So my next step is into the full time part of the industry, and the ultimate goal is being that decision maker within the recruitment department at as high of a level as I can. I want to be the chief scout or technical director calling the shots, whether that is in the U.K. or elsewhere around the world. I’ve massively enjoyed my time so far working in the Eredivisie and my current club will always have my loyalty and preferential treatment as a result of what they have given me to date.
What is one piece of advice you would give to the person reading this that wants to make the leap into scouting?
Forget about what others think. If this is something you want to do. Go for it! It doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks around you, this is your choice, your life, your path! Pursue your own ambitions to create your own happiness! Be selfish.
