Capital Football Technical Director, Roy Thomas Talks About the Way Ahead

This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network on Tuesday, 23 August 2011 at 7:00pm.

Tonights program is an extended interview with the Technical Director, Capital Football, Royston Thomas. Roy is a highly experienced professional Football person, very pragmatic and refreshingly “no fuss” in his approach. The CF TD’s job is a big one, with lots of influences and never enough resources to cover the scope of the various tasks to hand. So deciding what and how it will be done and when, is crucial to success. Being sufficiently determined to pursue these objectives, bring the Football community with you, while flexible enough to change position if better ideas come along, is essential to this position in Football – Roy striked me as being all of that. Roy has been in the job six months and in this interview he provides the NPL listener with some absolutely vital information on the way ahead:


• The structure he will use to deliver the National curriculum:

o CF Centre of Excellence

o CF Centre for Development

• Coach education – quality coaches to underpin the delivery of development

• The importance of close and effective working relationships with the Head Coaches of ACTAS mens and Womens programs

• Priorities for participation by age rep teams at the NJC.

• Delivery of technical support to clubs.

And then there is the welcome news that the 6-8 age group development program(s) will be delivered by Coerver - makes perfect sense! Good decision.
As an exercise in clear thinking, Roys initial approach is sound, makes good sense and looks achievable. There is connective football tissue between the elements of his approach to technical development of young players going forward. Roy has not left the clubs behind in his thinking and that’s a big step forward. This is all something parents and clubs can understand and support.

This interview was very much like a fire-side chat about football - two people passionate about football having a good talk about a few things. Time permitting, it could have gone on for ages and I reckon I would have learnt heaps from Roy.

I start the program with a part of his discussion about the recent Womens Under 14 and Under 15 NJC, then its on to a lot more. Roys observations on coaching and recent, terrific games between Barcelona and Real Madrid, then Canberra Olympic and CFC is a delight and right on the mark. I enjoyed this interview and think you will too.

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New Capital Football Technical Director, Royston (Roy) Thomas Talks About the Task Ahead

Capital Football have appointed a new Technical Director, his name is Royston (Roy) Thomas.

In this interview, Royston speaks of his Football background / experience and describes the first steps he has taken in his new position.

The position of Techncial Director is a pivotal one in ACT Football. In past years the emphasis, almost sole emphasis has been on the very small population of taletend players at age, prior to selection of an even smaller number of players to attend ACTAS. That's no criticism of the persons who have held this position; they obviously did what they were asked to do and the production of talented players in the ACT, beyond State / Territory Federation members is necessary if the we are to see National teams become more competitive. But the truth is that community football and Clubs have got lost in the background, sometimes feeling more put upon than supported by Capital Football and the FFA in these matters. And CAPital Football is in the business of running competitions - good competitions.

Royston arrives at a pivotal time in the development  and expansion of the game in the ACT region. The FFA National Football Curriculum and the National Development Plan, together with a massive shift to the good in Coach Education are the prime drivers in relation to Football players across the nation.

The Capital Football development programs (Academy / High Performance in thier turn) have been reviewed to a standstill. The question is now all about the "what" and the "how". Royston is cognizant of this situation. Playing facilities now demand more and more attention in the ACT and impact on player development and the provision of good competitions. Royston enters at a time with as is often said "a lot of balls in the air".

Royston has a mind to widen his contact with the Football community, reaching down to Clubs and Club Coaches, starting a continuing dialogue. He is presently visiting Clubs, junior and senior and speaks of creating a Forum for Coaches. He has quickly picked up on the important connections to the ACTAS Mens and Womens programs and coaches. Its early days and a productive start on a long and difficult journey in Football.

If you see him around the grounds or have him pointed out to you - go over and say hullo. He will need all the contact he can get outside the Capital Football offices, if he is to get across his portfolio in good time and make decisions that make sense to you. He's easy to talk to and a long Football background.

As you listen to this first interview, you will quickly get the impression that this is a person with a passion for Football. He is your Techncial Director, the game belongs to everyone, so use him! Hope you enjoy this first interview - I did!

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