England manager Thomas Tuchel has taken time out from his World Cup preparations to offer a unique mentoring opportunity to an aspiring young coach at the national football centre, St George's Park.
A Priceless Exchange of Coaching Philosophy
The beneficiary of this special session was Calron Hall, an academy coach at Liverpool Football Club. The meeting, arranged through the Chase football coaching programme, allowed Hall to sit down with the Three Lions boss on 16 January 2026. They discussed their respective journeys in the game, covering everything from nurturing young talent to the pressures of leading at international level.
Tuchel, who is intensifying plans for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, shared his expert advice on leadership, player development, and preparing squads for elite tournaments. He described the conversation as inspiring, praising Hall's evident passion for the craft.
Breaking Down Financial Barriers in Coaching
Hall's participation was made possible as he is a beneficiary of the Chase football coaching programme. This initiative provides fully funded access to coaching bursaries for individuals for whom cost is a significant obstacle. Through this scheme, Hall successfully completed his UEFA A badge, a crucial qualification for elite coaching.
The programme supports aspiring coaches across all four home nations: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It forms a core part of Chase's commitment to removing barriers to coaching and improving access to education, role models, and career paths within football.
Research Highlights Cost as Key Obstacle
New data underscores the programme's necessity. Research commissioned by Chase from YouGov found that the expense of qualifications is one of the biggest hurdles stopping people from under-resourced UK communities from pursuing coaching. Almost half (44%) of those surveyed stated that financial support would help overcome these barriers.
Latest figures released by Chase reveal the scale of the programme's impact to date: 5,518 coaching qualifications have been funded, with 4,046 already completed. This demonstrates the initiative's tangible progress in creating opportunities through sport.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Coaches
For Calron Hall, the experience was transformative. He stated that discussing player development and leadership first-hand with Tuchel provided him with new perspectives to apply in his own coaching environment. The session left him feeling inspired to continue his pursuit of a career at the elite level.
Deborah Keay, Chief Marketing Officer at Chase, said the programme aims to create meaningful experiences that support coaches at every stage. By improving access to education and role models, Chase hopes to foster a more diverse and inclusive future for football coaching in the UK.
The Chase football coaching programme continues to accept applications from aspiring coaches seeking to advance their qualifications and careers.
