Meet The Member - Team 17 Football Coaching
Team 17
We caught up with Team 17 founder and coach Connor to learn about his journey from local football in Harpenden to the professional game, and how those experiences led to the creation of Team 17. Built on elite coaching knowledge and a genuine love for the sport, Team 17 focuses on helping young players enjoy football while developing the skills, confidence, and mindset needed to progress at every level.
Could you tell us a bit about your personal journey and how Team 17 began?
My football journey started locally at Harpenden Colts when I was seven years old, before joining Watford FC’s academy, where I remained until the age of 16. From there, I went on to sign professionally with AFC Bournemouth, spending five years in the professional game.
After leaving Bournemouth, I moved into coaching, working privately with players while also becoming an academy coach at West Ham United. Following an injury last year, I felt it was the right time to build something of my own. Team17 was created to help more young players enjoy football while improving in the right way, using elite-level coaching knowledge and real professional experience.
What do you find most rewarding about coaching young players?
The most rewarding part is seeing players grow — technically, physically, and mentally. Whether it’s a child kicking a ball for the first time or a player preparing for men’s football, helping them build confidence, enjoy the game, and believe in themselves is what drives everything we do.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the Harpenden community?
Both myself (Coach Connor) and Coach AJ grew up in Harpenden, spending countless hours training and playing locally. It genuinely is home to us.
The area has a huge amount of footballing talent, fantastic facilities, and incredibly supportive families. Being part of this community motivates us to help shape the next generation of players and support them in progressing the right way to maximise the opportunities available to them.
What values guide your coaching approach?
We are big on standards, discipline, and professionalism, we want to teach all players that if our ambitions are to be our best our daily actions must mirror that because reaching the top level requires commitment and consistency. At the same time, enjoyment is essential.
We strongly believe that you’ll never improve without dedication — but you can’t stay dedicated unless you genuinely enjoy what you’re doing. Every session reflects that balance.
How do you balance fun with technical and tactical development?
Enjoyment is the foundation of everything we do, but each session also has clear technical, tactical, and physical objectives.
Through game-based practices, challenges, and realistic scenarios, players develop naturally while staying engaged. Football training should be fun — but it should also help players grow every time they step onto the pitch.
How do you tailor sessions for different personalities and ability levels?
We meet players exactly where they are. Whether it’s their first time kicking a ball or they’re already competing at a high level, we adapt our drills to help them improve right now.
We run small-group sessions with players of similar levels, alongside player workshops focusing on mentality and personality, and strive for long-term partnerships that allow players to reflect, develop, and progress throughout their budding careers. Confidence-building, positive reinforcement, and enjoyment are key — and players always leave wanting to come back and learn more.
How do you keep your coaching methods up to date?
Our coaching team has experienced what the very best coaching environments look like. We’ve worked with and learned from elite managers and coaches such as Eddie Howe, Scott Parker, Jonathan Woodgate, Rob Edwards, and Gary O’Neil.
All Team 17 coaches are ex-professional footballers, Level 3 qualified, DBS checked, first aid trained, and have extensive experience in professional academy environments. We bring that knowledge into every session, tailoring it to each player’s current and future needs.
What does the future hold for Team 17?
We’re excited about what’s ahead, including:
End-of-season spotlight games against academy teams
Expansion of 1-to-1 elite sessions
Continued support for players transitioning into men’s football
More mentality and personality workshops to support long-term development
Our goal is to build lasting partnerships with players and families, supporting development far beyond a single season.
What would you say to parents or players who are unsure about joining?
You don’t have to be the finished product — you just need the right environment. At Team 17, we support players of all abilities, from beginners to those already performing at the top levels.
We’ve worked with players currently competing professionally, including Christian Saydee (Portsmouth), Tarik Gidaree (Slough Town), and Nathan Moriah-Welsh (Mansfield Town), and helped players progress into academies at Luton Town, Watford FC, Northampton Town, and Cambridge United. Alongside many scoring their first goal for a team, building confidence to join a school team and just learning general vocabulary around the game.
If your child loves football and wants to improve, they’ll feel supported, challenged, and inspired with us.
Where’s your favourite place in Harpenden to relax or unwind?
Has to be Silver Palate — it’s where the coaches probably spend far too much time planning sessions, analysing performances, and creating individual development plans for our players. With a bit of arguing over who’s going to win the Premier League!