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.

Arthur Jack
Ross County Community Coach

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

Arthur has now been a community coach at Ross County for 4 years. 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.

Part of Arthur’s remit at the club is co-ordinate and deliver the SFA/RCFC McDonalds project and to coordinate all activities in the West Moray area where 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 qualified to Level 4 in the Youth pathway and continuing his professional development through working towards both his Children’s level 4 and Youth Licences.

Gordon Duff
Ross County 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 is to co-ordinate 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 Gordon is responsible for. This programme involves the delivery and organisation of coaching sessions prior to Ross County home games. Gordon is also involved in Ross County’s Youth Initiative, delivering and monitoring the progress of RCFC Primary 4/5 squad. Gordon has been proactive over the past two years in developing his coaching knowledge and is now qualified to Level 3 in both the Childrens and Youth SFA Coach Education pathways.

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.