Argyle Community Trust
ARGYLE Community Trust is blessed with an army of highly-qualified, dedicated and knowledgeable coaches, committed to ensuring all participants on all our programmes are given the best possible experience.
Stretching across the four main themes of the Trust (Participation, Inclusion, Education and Health), we have a number of coaches who have played football at a professional level or as part of the Academy structure at a pro club.
This is also extends to coaches with the Trust still competing in semi-pro football as players and managers, including the multi-titled Lee Hodges, a Plymouth Argyle legend as a player and now boss of Truro City in the National League South and Lead Coach on our Education programmes.
“As former professional players, we have grown up in the game and that enables us to pass on first-hand experience,” said Hodges. “All you can do is share your experiences with youngsters looking to enjoy playing football and hopefully play at the highest level possible.
“We’ve got some very good players in our education programmes and a lot of them will pursue careers in sport. We are here to help push them in the right direction and while they won’t all become professionals, we can show them the numerous pathways available.
“We have to give them every chance to play at a high level and that also extends to spreading a healthy message to all age groups involved with the Trust. We’ve all been very fortunate to have been given advice and guidance on how to lead a healthy lifestyle, maximising our potential as players and now coaches.
“When it comes to participation for youngsters and inclusion programmes, we want to spread the football message as far and wide as possible. Seeing a young kid or someone not normally exposed to football take pleasure from the game is hugely fulfilling for us.
“Your aim for youngsters is to bring a smile to faces and see them enjoy the game. As a former professional, you can never replicate the experiences of playing in front of a packed stadium but staying involved with Argyle Community Trust is fantastic for us to stay in the game.
“We are learning new things all the time and sharing that is very special.”
The impressive roll-call at Argyle Community Trust also includes former Peterborough United defender Jamie Day, now working on football provision in Cornwall. Jason Chapman is our Football Development Manager, a former Academy goalkeeper and also now player-manager for St Austell FC.
Bobby Hopkinson was a top midfielder with Argyle’s Academy and also played for Aldershot Town, now working on football participation in North Devon. Dan Hart is our Community Cohesion Officer and made such an impression as a schoolboy with Argyle that Arsenal were reportedly hunting his signature.
Jordan Copp works alongside Lee Hodges on the education programme and once attended a training camp for England youth. He is another product of the Argyle Academy and has also played for Truro City and Weymouth.
Health and Disability Officer Josh Grant was part of the Home Park Academy under former England international Mike Pejic. Josh spent four years on a football scholarship in the States and now plays for Plymouth Parkway.
Striker Lewis Coombes looks after education programmes at Duchy College and defender James Bradley coaches across Plymouth. Both also came through as apprentices for Argyle, and they continue to play at a high standard in the Peninsula League.
It’s safe to say: you’re in good hands with Argyle Community Trust.
