BES is thrilled to welcome Steve Trevelyan as Director of Coaching, Head of Recruitment and Summer Camp Director. A native of Wellington in Somerset, England, Steve has semi-professional playing experience to complement his lifetime of managing and coaching experience across all ages.
According to Carl, Steve’s versatility and willingness make him an ideal fit for a Director-level coaching position. “Everyone these days just wants to do the high school ages, where they’re close to the very developed player,” Carl explains. “It’s VERY hard to find a coach that A.) wants to coach the younger players; and B) Has the ability to coach them whilst keeping it fun and challenging.”
Indeed, Steve’s experience spans all age groups, and multiple countries. In his hometown of Wellington, he’s run his own camps and programs for over a decade for children ages three and up. Within the UK’s top soccer licensure system, he holds five badges: FA Level 2, FA Level 1, FA Youth Model 2, FA Youth Model 1 and FA First Aid. In the US, he’s coached players all across the country, from Maine to Texas, Wisconsin, New Mexico, and Colorado. It was during these experiences that he met Carl, and his path to BES began.
Steve’s experience as a player backs his lifelong love of coaching. He started playing at around ten years old for Wellington Football Club, progressing to an under-18 level. There, he was playing from an advanced perspective by playing with the under-18’s at the age of 15. After playing for the men’s reserve team following this, he played for the first team, against several ex-professionals, soon moving up a league. Unfortunately, he suffered a career- altering injury at the age of 23. Like many, this shepherded his transition into coaching-though he did return to the pitch and play again.
Steve describes his coaching philosophy as focusing on possession-based football. He recalls always being the smallest player on the pitch, but staying skilled technically. This has influenced his coaching worldview, as he noted you can cope with physicality if you’re skilled on the ball.
Asked to recall a prominent memory of his playing era, Steve describes scoring a winning goal with his weaker foot in a marquee match. “I remember it because of all the frustrations-the celebrations that come out afterwards,” Steve recalls. “Especially working with kids now, you know, they do get frustrated… and it is about, just keep working hard and you get your opportunity. I think as a coach, you’ll get your opportunities, playing under me, so to speak.”
He lauds the BES approach of empowering players to play multiple sports. In this context, he notes the value of hand-eye-coordination for a goalkeeper, as well as possession-based basketball patterns used by Spain in the past.
Personally, Steve has done community football work with the police to help curb antisocial behaviors in children at schools local to his hometown. He notes that maybe 10 of those children now play for the Wellington club. He’s a massive fan of Liverpool, and of the band Oasis.
Carl is excited for Steve’s arrival and the influence he is going to make both on and off the field.
“Ever since I started the club, I’ve been trying to get Stevey over. Stevey and I go way back, and I know he is first in class with any age, any gender, and any ability-which for me is the mark of a top coach,” Carl said.
Steve can be reached at strevelyan@becomeelitesoccer.com.
Written by Holly Galvin BES Writer and Consultant.
