Miller chosen to train local managers

EVO-STIK League manager Billy Miller has been imparting some of his knowledge and experience to West Yorkshire League managers and coaches at the West Riding County FA HQ, writes James Grayson.

The Harrogate Railway boss is a sports lecturer at Askham Bryan College and was approached by officials from the FA Charter Standard League and the West Riding who wanted to run a training day to help clubs learn new ideas. Miller is pictured running a coaching seminar and demo with young players from Nostell Miners Welfare with organisers hailing the event as a great success afterwards.

Miller brought along assistant manager Lee Ashforth and together they gave a coaching demo, using young players from Nostell Miners Welfare, pictured. Miller had earlier given a lecture on experiences from his two-years at Station View in the EVO-STIK League along with his days at the helm of Liversedge in the NCEL. Insights included how his Railway team is run on matchdays, training, man-management and his methods for dealing with problems on-and-off-the-pitch.

The EVO-STIK League First Division North manager said on Wednesday: "The biggest thing for us is selling to them that we weren’t trying to preach to them. All we were trying to do was share best practice, share ideas between them and us.

"There were some good things that came from the managers and coaches that me and Ash [assistant Lee Ashforth] will take away and incorporate into what we do. I really enjoy doing events like this. The response from the managers and coaches this morning was second to none."

The training day was organised by the West Yorkshire League’s Charter Standard co-ordinator Kevin Parkinson who approached county officials to help run the day and recently stepped down as general secretary after 23 years in the role.

He said: "It’s first of its kind that we have done and it is great that it has been a success. It is about the league improving its standards and today forms a major part of it. Having met Billy a few weeks ago, I think we picked a great guy to run it. He’s got charisma, knowledge, experience. He can relate to our level which is important."

Miller was chosen to lead the day after a recommendation from the County’s Senior Development Officer Andy Shuttleworth – the former Guiseley, Bradford Park Avenue and Harrogate midfielder.

Shuttleworth said: "I’ve played under Billy and I’ve said to him and Ash that I’ve played at a lot of Non-League clubs and [playing at Liversedge under him] was the best changing room I’ve ever been in.

"When we talked to Kevin about what he wanted to get out of the day, I thought because of playing under Billy at Liversedge, he would be a good choice. When I played under Billy, there was an enjoyment factor and I thought the way he dealt with his players was tremendous.

He added: "There are players who continue to play under him without getting a big wage and turn down other clubs. They do that for a reason."