Carl Darlington: Exclusive Preview
- First Installment of FAW Head of Coach Education’s Exclusive Interview
- Gives an insight into busy life working at FAW and Weslh champions TNS
- Sacrifices social life for the game he loves
PASSING THROUGH: Carl on the training ground
WELSH FA Head of Coach Education Carl Darlington has lifted the lid on his hectic football life in a fascinating in-depth exclusive interview on with Sport Careers.
The highly-respected 34-year-old supremo combines his life mentoring coaches with his job as First Team Coach at top Welsh Premier League side The New Saints.
Earlier this summer Darlington helped guide the club through a Champions League qualifying win, 5-1 on aggregate against San Marino side Tre Penne.
The dream of making the big time was quashed by Cypriots Apoel Nicosia in the next round but Sport Careers client Carl said: "Apoel were in the quarter-finals of the Champions League against Real Madrid three years ago.
"We drew 0-0 at home and that was still the score at half-time over there over the tie but we lost three goals in the second-half.
"You have to look at our budget compared to their budget, though, it's £333300,000 for the year compared to £33314MILLION.
"It was an achievement for us to be there but once you get knocked out you just want to taste it again.
"That means lifting yourself to win the league again."
Welsh champions TNS have made the perfect start in that quest and top the table once more after a 10-0 thrashing of hapless Rhyl on Sunday.
Darlington relishes mixing his coach education role with his work at his country's top club.
And he admitted: "I feel I am fortunate to be the Head of Coach Education and to be able to mix that with working at TNS.
"It's a full-time club and during my time at the FA the message has always been that they want our staff to go into the game.
"I teach it every day but you have to work in it and I have done that both with TNS and when I had a brief spell at Wrexham.
"I am given one day a week to do that and the biggest thing is about structure and planning.
"I make sure the club has the right process there, my sacrifice is that I don't have a social life!
"If I am not working at the FAW then I am at TNS and if I am not there I am at games watching Welsh players.
"I have a very understanding wife too and that's the sacrifice if you want to become the best you can be.
"I have given up on a social life for football, that's what I do. You miss the buzz of the games, that is ingrained in us."
Darlington believes his experiences in the technical area with TNS are pivotal to the learning he helps to deliver to the next generation of coaches in Wales.
His role now is a crucial one, aiming to tap into the feelgood factor after his nation reached the semi-final of the European Championship this summer.
He reasoned: "The pressure-cooker of that 90 minutes is what football is about and from my point of view I still love that.
"So working with the club I feel helps me to think about how I can design the courses to make the coaches the best they can be to get the best out of their players in the matches.
"If you don't live through the experiences of the games yourself how can you put it into a course?"
More From Carl
CARL DARLINGTON will be giving our subscribers an insight into his football life over the next three weeks. From helping to mould Roberto Martinez as a coach to seeing Gareth Bale's influence on the Welsh squad at close quarters.
Read Part One of Carl's exclusive interview HERE.
You can also read his pointers for up and coming coaches in our Career Advicesection.
Carl Darlington: Exclusive Preview
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