All 7 online diplomas completed, holding myself accountable, because learning never stops, you have to want to be successful then have then having the vision to execute it.

Welcome to The Performance Lab: Where Experience Meets Mindset Hello everyone, I’m so excited, to finally share something that has been growing in my heart and mind for years. I’m launching The Performance Lab – a dedicated space to mentor coaches and guide players in one of the most crucial yet overlooked aspects of sport: conquering performance anxiety and thriving under pressure. For 20 years, my weekends and evenings have been spent on the grass, immersed in the beautiful world of grassroots football and long term player development. I’ve been lucky enough to start with Mini Kickers, journey through pre-academy and U16s, and coach in frameworks like the MJPL and JPL, as well as in Women’s football and SEN football. The proudest moments? Seeing fantastic young players grow, win promotions, lift merit shields, and battle in cup finals. But behind those triumphs, I’ve also seen the silent battles: the nervous stomachs before a big game, the fear of making a mistake, the weight of expectation. Simultaneously, for another 20 years, my "day job" has been as a Healthcare Assistant in care homes and the community. Here, I’ve supported individuals facing profound challenges: physical disabilities, dementia, acquired brain injuries, autism with challenging behaviours, and mental health conditions. I’ve trained as a FREED Champion on the end-of-life pathway and as a Cancer Champion. In this world, "performance" is about dignity, resilience, and communication under the most intense human pressure imaginable. It taught me about calm, presence, and the human psyche in ways no sports manual ever could. I realised these two paths were talking to each other. The skills that build trust with a vulnerable adult are the same that build trust with an anxious player. The psychology of coping with immense stress is universal. And because I believe we must practise what we preach, my own drive for self-development has been a lifelong journey—starting back in college where I earned my Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award and a Diploma in Public Services, early lessons in resilience, teamwork and serving a community. That curiosity never left.