Paul Shipwright
Director Arsenal Soccer Schools MENA
Paul has been working for Arsenal FC for over 7 years as Head of Arsenal Soccer Schools, creating the Franchise partnership model for the club. The programme has been operating for over 7 years and has expanded to over 23 countries and involves 40,000 players. Paul was instrumental in all of the coaches training and their delivery of the “Play the Arsenal Way” to their players. Paul has been professionally coaching for 15 years.
Recently Paul has taken up the role of Director responsible for the expansion and delivery of the Arsenal Soccer Schools Franchise for the Middle East and North Africa Territories (MENA). This key role is to help facilitate the growth of Arsenal Schools and “Play the Arsenal Way” brand across the region.
Paul is responsible and oversees the Annual Arsenal International Soccer Festival which is now in its 20th year of operation and has become one of the benchmarking youth soccer tournaments internationally, attracting players and teams from across the globe.
Paul represented both Arsenal FC and Watford FC in his teens as well as being selected for the South of England Schoolboy Squad.
Deena Rahman Senior Coach
Deena has experience as a player and a coach at both club and international levels. She began playing football at a very young age with Fulham FC before joining Arsenal's Girls team. From there, she went on to prove her skill and subsequently earned her first of 10 England caps when she was selected for the Ladies U18 team. Deena has represented England in European Championships in England, France, Spain and Norway and signed a contract with Fulham Ladies, the first ever European team to become full time professional.
Deena obtained the FA level 2 coaching award in 2000 and went on to coach in the community before completing a Bsc degree in Sport and Exercise Science. She has coached in England and abroad as well as at the International level with Egypt's National Ladies U20 team.
John Mackenzie Senior Coach
John started playing at a local football club before he was signed up by Watford FC Academy after attending their soccer school as a youth player. John played in midfield before being converted to play as a sweeper in central defence and then left back. He became a regular in the Middlesex County elite team and then signed as a semi-professional player at Finchley FC, making his debut whilst still only 16. John has also played for some other very good sides including Hendon FC and Northolt FC and it was during this time that John started to develop his passion for coaching and teaching others; seeing the difference he made helping the younger players he decided to pursue coaching properly.
John is a Level 2 qualified English Football Association Coach; he has coached in the local community for Arsenal Soccer Schools since 2003 and works at the Arsenal International Festival each year. Although John has coached at all levels from senior football to Under 7’s, he particularly enjoys working with younger age groups and loves to see the smile on a player’s face when a turn or trick he has taught them finally clicks. John’s philosophy is to make sure all players feel comfortable and valued as a member of the team.
Liam Trigg Senior Coach
Liam was born into a footballing family with his Great Grandfather playing for Stoke FC, his grandfather for Watford FC and his father a professional coach. He developed his passion for wanting to coach after playing football for as long as he can remember. As a junior he played centre back and even now it is his favourite position to play on the pitch. However when he represented his district in national competitions he moved to a more central role in mid field and continued this role for his local semi professional club.
After studying his B-Tec in sports and exercise sciences at college, he joined Arsenal’s coaching programme. Since then he has coached in Arsenal soccer schools in the UK and South East Asia, spending a period of 5 months at the Arsenal soccer school in Vietnam. He was then chosen by Arsenal to spend 3 months in Kenya as part of Arsenal in the communities’ global charity for 2010, where he coached in some of East Africa’s poorest slums and most deprived areas helping some of the most unfortunate children to play the Arsenal way.
Liam is a Level 2 qualified English Football Association Coach and part of the organising committee for the Arsenal International Soccer Festival; which he has done for the past 5 years. Liam has coached at all levels from senior football to Under 5’s, he enjoys coaching all age groups of boys and girls, but especially with 10-15, where he thinks it is a key age in football to not just learn about your individual skills, but how to play football as a team and learn the way the game should be played, the Arsenal way.
Andy Collins Senior Coach
Andrew has been playing football from a very early age. As a junior he played and captained teams. He played men’s football at county level, Andy plays anywhere in the back line as a defender.
At the age of 21 Andrew joined Arsenal and coached in local schools with children aged 3 to 18. In addition to this he coached visually impaired children and adults with learning difficulties. He then moved to ASS in Vietnam, where he worked with the Soccer School players and local schools in Ho Chi Minh City. Following this he got offered a great chance by Arsenal to go to Kenya for their chosen charity project of 2010. Andy coached in Africa’s poorest slums and deprived area’s helping out with charity days raising money for the children.
Andrew is FA level 2 qualified and FA level 1 goalkeeping certificate. He also works at the Arsenal international soccer festival.
Andrew has coached at all levels and ages for boys and girls. He looks forward to being able to work with individuals on goalkeeping techniques. He also really enjoys coaching 8-13 years. He believes this is a great age to work with as they are keen to learn as well as always playing with smiles on their faces. Andy thinks that the most important thing in football is to have fun and enjoy it.
