About us
For us, football coaching isn’t only about creating the next Ronaldo. We know that the priority for most parents is to make sure their children really enjoy their football classes, while making friends and keeping fit. It is our mission to share our own passion for football, while making sure that every single girl or boy we coach feels included and important, regardless of their age or ability.
- FA-qualified, professional and friendly football coaches
- Fun matches and small group skills training
- Coaching for girls and boys of any age and ability
- U6–U12 weekly sessions
- Links with professional clubs
- Fantastic birthday parties
- 121 training for any age or ability, including PT sessions for adults
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Our story
In 1998, head coach David Williams suffered a broken leg, which halted his conventional football career. Now he reckons that was one of the best things that could have happened ...
David was taken under the wing of Chelsea FC coach Ted Daley, and soon began to focus his energies on coaching kids ... which it turned out he had a real talent for. Having passed the FA Level 2 course and elite coaching certification to FA Youth Award Level 3, David started to work closely with innovative development business Premier Skills.
At the time, Premier Skills was developing its new coaching methodology, Practice Play, with its emphasis on progressive learning and game situations, not just on drills. This was a real game changer, making children’s football fun and fresh.
In 2012 David established Premier Skills Academy, bringing Practice Play to life in kids’ coaching sessions. Today Premier Skills Academy is one of the most respected providers of kids’ football coaching in Hertfordshire, with over 600 families in our academy and 30 weekly matches taking place across Hatfield, St Albans and Harpenden.
Whether you’re looking for a friendly kids’ coaching session for your Reception-age beginner, or a more dynamic U10 team for your aspiring footie superstar, your child will receive a warm welcome and excellent coaching in any of our classes.
Grass roots football at its best.
BOOK A FREE TASTER SESSION
It takes 2 minutes to sign up
Our coaches
At Premier Skills Academy our kids’ coaching pedigree is second to none. Head coach David Williams is joined by two highly dedicated and experienced coaches, with advice and support from the developers of the Practice Play method, John Cartwright and Roger Wilkinson, who between them have incredible career highlights.
David Williams
As founder of Premier Skills Academy, David oversees all the coaching and is hands-on at all of our venues. He started coaching in 1997, passing his old Level 2 at the first attempt, and is now a Practice Play Level 3 coach and tutor.
Nasser Hacini
From Marseille, France, Nasser is a Level 2 coach who started with Premier Skills Academy in 2018. He currently works with 5–11-year-olds at our Hatfield centre. Nasser is very friendly and has a great temperament for working with children.
Jack Royston
Jack played youth football for Braintree Town and Dartford FC before completing a soccer scholarship in America. He later played for Europa Point FC in the Gibraltar Premier League. Jack is an FA Level 1 coach who specialises in 121 coaching. He's patient and easy-going, and gets the best out of the kids he coaches.
John Cartwright
Co-founder of Premier Skills
Ex-West Ham and Crystal Palace player
- Played for West Ham and Crystal Palace
- Technical director of the English Professional Footballers Association
- Academy coach at Crystal Palace, where he produced the ‘Team of the Eighties’
- Director of Youth Football at Charlton Athletic
- England Youth coach and First Team coach at Arsenal Football Club
- Technical director of the FA National School of Excellence
- Acknowledged as an outstanding football coach by Terry Venables, Ron Greenwood, Don Howe and Malcolm Allison
- Author of football coaching book, Football for the Brave
Roger Wilkinson
Co-founder of Premier Skills
Former Crystal Palace First Team Coach
- Over 35 years of football coaching experience around the world
- Crystal Palace Academy Coach for over 10 years
- Under 21 development coach for West Bromwich Albion
- Currently Youth Academy director at New Zealand team Fencibles United
