Martin Rae
SFA Community Coach

E-Mail: martin.rae@rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk

Based at Ross County Football Club, Martin Rae is the SFA Community Coach for the Highlands and Islands. Martin started his career as the First MA (modern apprentice) player at Ross County FC, but after choosing a different route for his career he got involved with coaching part time with the youth set up at Ross County FC while studying and completing an HND in Sports Coaching with Sports Development.

In 2000 Martin took up the role of MA Community Coach where his main responsibilities were to deliver the McDonalds project and other School initiatives.
After completing the MA Martin moved into the role of Community Coach at the club where he took responsibility for organising and delivering School programmes, Holiday programmes and Soccer centres all over the Highlands & Islands.

In October 2006, he took up the position of SFA Community Coach based at Ross County FC bringing with him valuable knowledge and experience in football development. Martin, a Childrens Licence and Youth Award holder, is responsible for the delivery of the SFA Coach Education Programme throughout the region in addition to a wide variety of coaching initiatives for people of all ages, from three year olds right through to adults.

Martin is from Maryburgh and began playing in the Ross County youth initiative programme as a young goalkeeper and represented the club at Under 19 level. Martin later became the goalkeeper for Highland League Champions Clachnacuddin before moving to Forres Mechanics.

Debbi McCulloch
Ross County Community Coach

E-Mail: debbi.mcculloch@rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk

Debbi has been at Ross County for three years, having joined the club from Dundee United in November 2003. Debbi took up the position of Community Coach at the club with the additional responsibility of establishing a girl’s football programme which is currently supported by the Scottish Football Association. Debbi holds a BSc Honours Degree in Sports Coaching and Development and worked in various football programmes in Scotland and the USA before joining Ross County’s Community team.

Debbi currently co-ordinates Ross County’s “Little Dribblers” pre-school programme which involves introducing three and four year olds to the basic skills of football. The Match Day Club is another initiative that Debbi is responsible for. This programme involves the delivery and organisation of coaching sessions prior to Ross County home games.

Debbi, a SFA Childrens Licence holder, brings a high level of enthusiasm and energy to working with young footballers and continues to be an excellent role model for the children she coaches. Originally from Glasgow, Debbi has played football for Clyde, Dundee United and captained the University of Abertay team prior to moving north to join Ross County’s community coaching staff.

Arthur Jack
Ross County Community Coach

E-Mail: football.liaison@moray.gov.uk

Arthur is the full-time Community Coach for the West of Moray. On leaving school in 1994 Arthur completed an H.N.D in Sports Coaching and Development at Moray College in Elgin. During his time at College Arthur worked for the then SFA Development Officer, Neil Simpson on a part-time basis delivering football to youngsters throughout the area. Following his college studies Arthur went on to work part time in the Aberdeen Football Club Community Department and was the head coach of Aberdeen FC Primary School Development Squad in Moray for over 5 years.

Arthur has now been with Ross County’s Community Department for over 2 years. He has been instrumental in setting up a number of football initiatives in the area and has produced a strong youth development squad set up. Arthur is also the lead coach of the under 14s Ross County Development Squad where he delivers coaching twice a week to this group in Dingwall and also manages the team when playing matches throughout Scotland. Arthur is currently continuing his professional development through working towards both his Children’s and Youth Licences.

Arthur has lived and grown up in Elgin all his life and his passion and commitment to developing football in the area is inspirational to us all.

Tommy Wilson
Ross County Community Coach

E-Mail: tommy.wilson@rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk

Tommy has been at Ross County for just over two years, having joined the Club directly from Dingwall Academy. Tommy first joined the Community Department on the Club’s Skillseeker Programme as an 18 year old, having previously played for County's youth teams since he was 12. Having completed the Skillseeker Programme, Tommy has now gone on to become a full time Community Coach at the club.

Tommy's role involves co-ordinating and coaching in the School Visits Programme across the Highlands, and also co-ordinates the School In-service Days programme and one off events. Tommy has the important role of coaching the Club's Primary School Development Squads alongside full time and part time coaches. The Primary Squads were developed to allow children the opportunity to train two days a week throughout the year, with the chance of progressing into the club's Youth Initiative Squads.

Tommy is currently a Level 3 coach on the SFA Coach Education pathway and over the course of 2007 hopes to continue his development by completing the Level 4 Youth Award, and also the SFA Childrens Licence. Tommy is a popular member of the coaching staff, and as a Dingwall boy born and bred hopes to be involved in coaching around the Highland's and Island's for Ross County as an SPL club before too long.

Gordon Duff
MA Community Coach

E-Mail: gordon.duff@rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk

Gordon is the newest member of the Community team who started working for Ross County Football Club in December 2005 as a Modern Apprentice Community Coach.

His main role at the club involves the delivery and co-ordination of the Scottish Football Association McDonalds school programme which will provide five schools in Inverness with two new football teams this year. Furthermore, he has assisted the community department in delivering School Visits, Little Dribblers, Soccer Centres and Holiday programmes. Gordon is also involved in Ross County’s Youth Initiative, delivering and monitoring the progress of RCFC Primary 4/5 squad. As part of his Modern Apprenticeship he has been proactive over the past year in developing his coaching knowledge and is now qualified at Level 1 & 2 of the SFA coaching pathway.

Gordon is from Dingwall and played for Ross County’s Under 15’s squad and continues to play football in the surrounding area. Gordon is a popular character with the kids in the community whose positive attitude and energy reflects well on the young footballers he coaches.

Sean Cook
MA Community Coach

Sean joined Ross County as an MA Community Coach for West Moray in 2005, after leaving school in the summer. Sean started as one of the Club’s part time staff and progressed to a full time apprenticeship. His main role at the Club involves the delivery and co-ordination of the Soccer Centres, Holiday programmes, Little Dribblers project and other school visits in Elgin, Lossiemouth and Forres. Also this year he will help deliver the Scottish Football Association McDonalds school programme which will provide nine schools in Elgin and Lossiemouth with a new boy’s football team and a new girl’s football team this year. Sean is also involved in Ross County’s Youth Initiative, assisting with the Moray Primary squads in Kinloss.

As part of his modern apprenticeship Sean is working through his SVQ and also attending Coach Education courses to further his personal development and gain more experience.

Kirsty MacDonald
Administrator

E-Mail: kirsty.macdonald@rosscountyfootballclub.co.uk

Kirsty has progressed to her current role of Administrator for the Club's Community and Youth Initiative over the course of 6 years spent at Victoria Park. Having arrived as a Skill Seeker Footballer playing for Ross County's Ladies Team back in 2001, she then spent a year as a Community Coach before moving over to the Administrative side of the Department.

During her time at Ross County, Kirsty has completed 3 SVQ's: Sports and Recreation, Using IT and Administration, the combination of which makes her ideally suited to her role of co-ordinating the Club's programme of Holiday and Term Time Coaching activities. She has also recently taken on Administrative duties for the Club’s Youth Initiative teams, working with Head of Youth David Kirkwood.

A lifelong County fan, Kirsty lives in Dornoch, the small town where she grew up and went to school, and her willingness to go out of her way to help anyone she can as well as her cheerful personality make her one of the most popular members of staff at Ross County.