Meet the team at the FCV International Football Academy

Graham Starmer

Managing Director

One of the Founders and directors of footballcv.com since its inception in 2000 and has been instrumental in the company establishing itself as the UK’s market leader in organising football trials.

Founder of FootballCV Academy in 2007 as the first private residential football academy in the UK providing full time football and education to UK and International students.

In March 2011 became Co-owner and Vice-Chairman of Corby Town Football Club taking the club to the First Round of the FA Cup in 2012 and maintaining their Conference North status. Sold the club in May 2012.

Also Managing Director of Burndine Sales and Services, a family business whose main activity is property management and investment and Trustee of the Leon Barwell Foundation – a charity to help families in Northamptonshire suffering from terminal cancer.

Skype: footballcv.director

Martin Harris

Academy Director

Martin joined in 2007 as Administrator and rose up to become Academy Director in five years.

Martin started his coaching career at a local junior team managing and coaching youth teams at most age groups before moving onto work at Kettering Town FC. During his nine seasons at Kettering, he has worked with age groups from U10's up to and including the U18's. Whilst at the club he was Assistant Development Officer, overseeing the U12's to the U16's. Martin then moved on to work within the backroom staff for the Senior Team at Kettering Town, working with the likes of Paul Gascoigne, Paul Davies and Ron Atkinson. In 2005 Martin flew to America and spent a period of time coaching in Chicago, Detriot, Indianapolis and Milwaukee. He too holds an FA Coaching Certificate, Child Protection Certificate and DBS check.

Martin also spent two seasons as Football Operations Director of then Conference North side Corby Town.

Skype: footballcv.academy

Ann Dyte

Facility Director & Welfare officer

Ann joined the academy in the summer of 2009 and has been involved with sport and young people for most her life, having played County Netball and being the Captain of Northants Ladies & Girls Tennis Squads. Football has always been a major part of the Dyte family’s life and she supports Leicester City.

Previous to joining the Academy, Ann worked within the Criminal Justice system as Manager of the Enforcement team, Chairman of Youth Offending Team Panels and trained as a Drug & Alcohol Abuse counsellor for CAN. Ann also has an accountancy background having been the Treasurer of a National Trade Union and holds a full DBS check.

Chris Rivett

Director

Experienced sports communications expert, both in print and digital, Chris has been advising the Academy since its conception, having been providing consultancy support to FCV since 2002. He joined the board, initially as an associate director, in 2010 and more recently in an executive capacity. He is the managing editor for national governing bodies and organisations of publications in football, rugby union and rugby league, and managing director of Final Third Sports Media, who specialise in the development and management of websites and social media in the sports and leisure industry from their offices in England and Australia.

Chris was once the youngest director of a football club in England at Corby Town and has also been chairman of Stamford Association Football Club, he holds a number of independent and non-executive directorships for private businesses and national organisations in the sport industry.

Grant Brown

Academy Football Manager

Grant joined FCV in the summer of 2016 as Academy Manager.

A central defender in his playing days, Brown's career spanned 18 years and just short of 600 games. After starting out at Leicester City, where he played 14 times, he moved to Lincoln City, going on to make more than 400 appearances during a 13-year spell.

After stints at Telford United and Alfreton Town, Sunderland-born Brown joined Grantham Town – which he balanced alongside a Youth Team coaching role at Lincoln.

Brown hung up his boots in 2006 to further his focus on his coaching career and, since then, has stepped up into a caretaker manager role at Sincil Bank on a handful of occasions. As the Imps' Head of Youth since 2010, there's no doubt that Brown has the expertise to get the very best out of FCV's future stars this season and beyond.

Ben Watts

Talent Development

Ben joined FCV in 2016 which has involved him travelling to Australia, USA, Bulgaria, Germany and all parts of the UK where he has coached and developed young players.

UEFA A coach Ben Watts, started his football sporting career after turning down a chance to be a fulltime professional cricketer.

A complete sportsman, Ben took up his football coaching training with Kettering Town’s Academy and progressed to his UEFA B licence after working with Northampton Town and Peterborough United Academy.

During this time Ben, now an Academy Manager, travelled extensively throughout the world, recruiting and coaching talented players.

Ben has been involved in senior football since leaving Northampton Town, working as team coach at St Neots, Wellingborough Town and Eynesbury Rovers of the United Counties League, where he is still presently connected.

Ben brings with him, a wealth of international talent search experience to FootballCV Academy. Actively searching in the UK and abroad for young football talent who would benefit from our International Football world class Academy training and exit strategy opportunities within the FA.

Ben also holds Level 2 in coaching Goalkeepers and is waiting to start the Pro licence and FA Youth Module for 2017.

Ian Sampson

UEFA A Coach

Ian (Sammo), is one of our valued UEFA A coaches who joined FCV in 2014, combining his coaching role with scouting duties for Premier League, Crystal Palace. Ian was most recently part of the coaching team that launched the football programme in Mumbai in September 2017.

A former English footballer, he played as a defender for Goole Town, Sunderland, Northampton Town and Tottenham Hotspur.

A central defender; Sammo began his professional career in 1990 when Sunderland signed him. Joining Northampton in 1994, where he played for 10 years & making 449 appearances. He went on loan to play for Spurs in 1995, featuring in their squad for the Intertoto Cup. He scored during Spurs' only victory in the campaign against NK Rudar Velenje.

He retired from the game at the end of the 2003–04 season.

Sammo became Northampton’s first-team as coach in 2006; the same year he was appointed as joint caretaker manager. Winning the League Two ‘Manager of the Month’ Award in January 2010.

When Sammo left Northampton Town in 2011 he was one of the clubs most popular managers and, notably, his team beat the Premier League side Liverpool at Anfield, on penalties, in the League Cup in September 2010.

He went on to manage Corby Town and resigned as manager after the 2012/13 season.

Carol Holland

Sports Therapist

Carol is an experienced Qualified Sports Therapist with a full career within Football.

Currently Head of Medical for Stamford AFC, Carol previously worked at St. Neots FC, Holbeach United FC, Blackstones FC and Deeping Rangers FC.

Carol is also Physio for the Legends Tournament, featuring Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and Fulham.

A qualified teacher in Further Education, Carol is able to teach Therapist in Sports Therapy & Massage.

Her qualifactions include being Medical Acupuncture trained, Entonox trained and also holds regular fitness classes in Hooping & Boogie Bounce.

An essential Academy team member, she keeps her eye on all the FootballCV Academy players ensuring they remain match fit and injury free throughout the season. 

Carol is always available and happy to discuss career options with Academy Students on Physiotherapy.

Ashley Foulger

Goalkeeping Coach

Ashley Foulger was appointed as FCV Academy Goalkeeping Coach in 2016. Ashley has a background in youth football having played for Northampton Town and Kettering Town. He then went on to play at a senior level for AFC Rushden & Diamonds. Ashley has worked for Football Development Schools and has gained FA Level 2 coaching badges both outfield and goalkeeping. Ashley is now working towards a UEFA B Licence.

Chris Palmer

Coach and Sports Therapist

A qualified Sports Therapist and Sports Masseur, having trained at the 'Medical Centre of Excellence' at Lilleshall before going on to gain a degree in 'Sports Therapist' at Salford University. He has worked in the sports injury/rehabilitation departments at a number of both professional and semi-professional football clubs, such as Cambridge City, Luton Town, Norwich City, Kettering Town, Rushden & Diamonds and Spalding United. During 2012, Chris was fortunate to be selected as part of a team of therapist for the London Olympic Games in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

Chris is also a qualified football coach, having achieved his UEFA 'B' licence coaching badge in the summer of 2010. He has recently started coaching with the Arsenal Soccer Schools development centres, earning him an invite to the Emirates Cup. In 2014 Chris completed a Physchology course in sport and also undertook a multi sports activity award.

Tracy Green

Residential Manager

Tracy joined in February 2018 having worked for over 12 years at the Clarelodge Specialised Residential Welfare Unit in Peterborough as a Senior Lead Specialist Residential Worker.

This experience of working with and developing 16 – 19 year olds is of great benefit to the Academy players to ensure their development and welfare as a young adult in a safe environment.

Tracy has gained a vast range of qualifications and training such as BSc (Hons) Human Psychology, NVQ 4 in Health and Social Care (children and young people), First Aid, Food hygiene, Safeguarding, Child Protection, Fire marshall and is DBS checked.

Stephanos Kontopyrgos

Residential Supervisor

Stephanos joined the residential team in the summer of 2016, bringing with him valuable experience as a residential houseparent gained from several previous boarding schools.

He has a wealth of experience working with international students and a good understanding of safe guarding regulations. Stephanos also has a Master’s Degree in Developmental Psychology.

He enjoys playing basketball in his spare time and has an appreciation for all sports.

He was Assistant Coach at Keravnos BC a high level basketball team in Cyprus.

Mick Dyte

Residential Assistant

Mick has worked for the Academy since 2008, and holds an FA Emergency First Aid and FA Safeguarding Children certificate plus a full DBS check.

Mick played for Birmingham City as a youth and was player and manager of Wellingborough Town at Southern League level, he has supported Blackpool for 50 years.

John Lowe

Head Chef

John Lowe joins FCV Academy as Head Chef with more than 15 years’ experience in the food industry. John trained for three years at Stamford College and has worked for the Crown Hotel, The Jubilee and The Tobie Norris. John will now be providing the vital fuel for our group of budding footballers who are giving their all to progress into the professional game.

Matt O'Dowd

Head of Sport (Loughborough College)

Matt is the Sport Work Related Learning Manager and oversees the college’s extensive elite sport programmes and the Elite Sport team. Matt has worked at Loughborough College for 15 years, working on a variety of elite sport programmes, starting as a teacher delivering on the football programmes with Derby County and Leicester City.

During his time at the college, Matt has progressed from working as a teacher through to leading a large team. During this time, the size of the provision has grown extensively, with over 20 programmes with elite sport clubs/partners and National Governing Bodies currently.

Matt was team leader for the Sport Work Related learning area that was graded Outstanding by Ofsted in the college’s last Ofsted inspection in February 2012.

Matt is a graduate of Loughborough University (PE, Sport Science and Recreation Management) and is a former international athlete in endurance events. Matt’s achievements as an athlete include competing in the Olympic Games marathon, World Athletics Championships, Commonwealth Games and 5 World Cross Country Championships for Great Britain.

Steve Watkins

A' level tutor

Steve Watkins is a qualified lecturer with over 30 years teaching experience, delivering a wide variety of business subjects including A levels and a range of vocational courses up to level 5. Steve’s specialist subject areas are Accounting and Finance, Economics, Law and Marketing. Steve is currently teaching the Cambridge International Business A level and the AQA AS Business qualification as part of the PRC provision for FootballCV Academy.

Christian Smith

Commercial Consultant

Christian has enjoyed a successful career on the commercial side of the professional game for over 23 years. After graduating with a business degree from the University of Central Lancashire he became Leicester City FC’s first ever Marketing Manager before progressing to the role of General Manager in the late 1990’s.

Further spells in similar roles at Coventry City FC and Wrexham AFC culminated in his appointment as Commercial Director of the Professional Footballers’ Association, a position he held for almost 13 years working with some of the world’s leading players before leaving to pursue a more autonomous career as a consultant to the football industry.

Christian currently works with a number of professional players, managers and agencies in the delivery of commercial and media opportunities and joined the Academy in May 2017 as Commercial Consultant.

In addition to his ‘day job’, Christian is also joint owner of Walshy’s Sportspad, the UK’s first multi-sport simulator centre based in Leicester and along with his wife Karen, established Northants-based charity Ups ‘n’ Downs, supporting people affected by Downs Syndrome in the local area.

Joe England

Operations and Projects Manager

Joe joined FootballCV in August 2012, having a background in playing county football from a young age. He has spent time coaching youth football locally, after obtaining an FA coaching badge. After working for a major outdoor and adventure company in 2009, He went on to complete a National Diploma in Sports Coaching, Fitness and Development, at Northampton College. Joe also holds his FA Emergency First Aid, FA Safeguarding children and a Level Two Community Sports Leadership award.

Skype: footballcv.operations

Joe Tarris

Academy Administrator

Joe joined the academy in July 2017 as the Academy Administrator. With a background in youth football having played for Leicester City, Walsall and Coalville Town. During this time he also represented the Leicestershire County squad at both U16 and U18 age groups. In 2014 Joe travelled to join Villarreal, where he spent a season with the U15's side. On his return, he made an appearance at the International Goalkeeping Conference which was held St. Georges Park in 2015.

Most recently Joe has completed a Level 3 BTEC Sports and Exercise Science course through Loughborough College, where he achieved triple distinctions. In addition to this Joe holds the FA Emergency Aid, FA Safeguarding Children certificates, along with a Level 2 Community Sports Leadership Award and Level 1 Talent Identification.