As Fulham FC Foundation continues to celebrate Autism Awareness Week 2020, we turn to Active Autism Coach Paul Leconte to share his coaching journey.
When did you decide that you wanted to be a football coach?
The strange thing is that after college, I hadn’t thought about becoming a football coach. It wasn’t until a meeting with a Job Centre several years ago, in which they told me about Fulham FC Foundation’s ‘My Future Goal’ programme. The course was designed to teach employability skills, and I also went on to gain my Level 1 in Football Coaching badge from it. It is still the best decision I’ve made, as this has helped me with my Autism in so many ways.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey with Fulham FC Foundation, following the My Future Goal programme?
I first became involved with Fulham foundation in February 2014 as a volunteer, working mainly on the Soccer School programmes, after school clubs, and some disability programmes. After passing my assessment with the Foundation to become a coach, I started working on after school clubs teaching football, tennis and multi-skills during the week. This is also when I started working on the Active Autism programme. I’m now Head Coach, and the coach that leads the Active Autism team when they go play at tournaments.
Can you share a highlight from your time on the Active Autism programme?
To be able to see the changes/difference we make to the participants’ lives: not just giving them somewhere they can go and play and improve at football but to see their confidence grow, make friends and to feel included and part of something. I never had anything like this when I was growing up, so it is really rewarding to be able to give something that I never had.
When did you become Head Coach and how did it make you feel?
I became Head Coach on the 21st June 2019. It made me feel proud of myself, being able to start as a volunteer and work my way up to Head Coach.