Staffing

Trip Management Team

All staff have a valid enhanced DBS (previously known as CRB) disclosure check and all new staff joining us must provide two references. We follow the FA guidelines on Child Protection when appointing staff.

Dan Abraham has been involved in independent school football for 16 years, in particular through his role at King Edward’s School Witley in Surrey, where his wife was a Housemistress for ten years. Dan previously coached at Portsmouth FC and was Head Coach of the ISFA National Under 13 team.  He’s also won two trophies at Gothia Cup as a Coach. Dan holds a host of football related qualifications and is an FA and UEFA Licenced Coach. He has organised trips to the Gothia Cup every year since he first attended in 2002. There is no one that knows more about trips to the Gothia Cup than Dan!

Jess Woodward joined the team in 2022 and has since become the main organiser for the Prep Schools’ squads, coordinating everything from the Autumn trials and A squad matches to the Easter Camps and the Gothia Cup. Jess is a keen sportswoman herself and enjoys travel, hiking, gardening and anything else outside! Jess has attended the tournament for the last couple of years and is looking forward to another fantastic Gothia Cup this July.

Nick Ash is a UEFA and FA Licenced Coach who has previously coached a team to Gothia Cup success! Nick is an outstanding coach with vast experience at several football clubs, including Arsenal, and has plenty of experience coaching and leading teams at tournaments abroad. Nick has worked with Dan Abraham on many previous trips and will also be overseeing the School accommodation at Kvibergsskolan.

Samantha Coleman has worked in Sports Therapy across Gloucestershire and Southampton in football and in the NHS. She has been involved with charity events ran by The Albion Foundation (West Brom) and worked on a UEFA backed research project at Athletic Bilbao. She loves spending time with her family and has just taken up running so you may catch her early morning or late evening getting a few K in! Sam has been attending the Gothia Cup since 2016, so feel free to ask for help as she knows the city well! She will be overseeing the School accommodation at Samskolan.

Peter Gray played semi professional football before gaining his coaching badges. Peter has coached adults and children at various non-league Clubs including managing Basingstoke Town Reserves and Assistant Manager at Sutton United. He is a dad of 4 and enjoys keeping fit. This will be Peter’s sixth trip to Gothia Cup, he will be on hand and support players and parents during the trip.

 

For the most talented Independent School footballers across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire & Surrey