Charlie Cooke, a member of the legendary Chelsea side of the late 1960s and 1970s, is coming to Galway to lead the Coerver Coaching course which takes place at the end of this month.
The first Coerver Coaching Youth Diploma course to be held in the west of Ireland takes place at the Mervue United FC grounds on Saturday February 25 and Sunday 26.
Coaches from Everton, Blackburn Rovers and Tranmere Rovers have already booked on the course, as well as coaches from France and Malta, and many different clubs around Ireland. The Youth Diploma launch will see Coerver Coaching co-founder Charlie Cooke providing expert tuition to all attendees.
Charlie played for Aberdeen and Dundee in the Scottish First Division before joining Chelsea in 1966 where he played for the next 11 years. He made 380 league and cup appearances for the team and played in four cup finals, winning the English FA Cup in 1970 against Leeds and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1971 against Real Madrid.
He also played 16 times for the Scottish National Team and a World Select Team in 1979. He shares the Chelsea club record of three Player of The Year awards with Gianfranco Zola, and in 2005, Chelsea’s centenary celebration year, he was selected for the Chelsea All Time XI.
The purpose of the Coerver Coaching Youth Diploma is to give attendees, whether a professional academy coach, junior coach, teacher, or parent, a greater understanding of how to plan and deliver more effective coaching sessions.
Those interested in taking part in the Galway course should email [email protected] or call 087 - 949 6293.
As part of the weekend Charlie Cooke will be popping into Massimo on Saturday February 25 at 6.30pm for a Q&A session with Galway Chelsea fans followed by a meet and greet. This event is organised by The Galway True Blues (Chelsea Supporters Club ).
Fans will have an opportunity to ask Charlie what he thinks of the current squad, his favourite opponent from the old days, and get a 1970s/retro jersey signed or a photograph taken with the Chelsea Legend.