A LOCAL football coach who has brought through some of England’s best young talents is now taking his expertise worldwide through his new football academies.

Lee Waddington, from Gomersal, has worked as a scout and academy coach for some of England’s biggest clubs over the past 30 years, and is now set on unearthing the hottest new talents across the world.

Mr Waddington’s 1st Team Football academies launched in America in January, with Player Learning Centres in Orlando and Philadelphia.

Later this year, academies will also roll out in Australia, China, India, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, giving junior players aged five to 17 a first-class footballing education.

Mr Waddington has a UEFA A coaching licence and an FA Advanced Youth Award, as well as a Masters degree in Sports Psychology.

He has also worked as a scout and youth coach at Manchester United, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Blackburn Rovers and Burnley.

In his Head of Talent ID and Head of Coaching role at Burnley Academy he brought through Dwight McNeil, one of England’s most promising young talents, and midfielder Callum Styles who is now at Barnsley.

Other players who have come through his own academy include Middlesbrough winger Duncan Watmore, Motherwell striker Devante Cole, and Preston North End midfielder Joshua Harrop.

1st Team Football aims to give this expertise to thousands of children worldwide, blending footballing education with professional development, underpinned by a scientific approach to childhood learning.

It’s philosophy is that every child is put at the centre of their own development as a player.

Lee Waddington said: “There’s a need for fresh innovation in football coaching.

“In my mind this will be driven by the latest scientific thinking into children’s development and learning.

“1st Team Football will avoid prescriptive coaching methods in favour of creating conditions that spark curiosity, stimulate learning and self-discovery.

“We’ll be delivering a style and quality of coaching and development unlike anything currently in the market.”

He has hand-picked UEFA qualified coaches for each talent centre, and the first ones in the USA are now offering taster sessions for young players.

Every child will get age-specific training and the chance to come to the UK for experience in an academy setting.

1st Team Football is also planning to create an Athlete Research Centre based in Los Angeles, in collaboration with the UCLA’s Bjork Learning Lab, giving researchers the opportunity to research key elements of how juniors best learn to play football in a ‘live’ environment, and it is hoped this will help shape football coaching in the future.