GISBORNE THISTLE × ALBION COACHING

DEVELOPING PLAYERS AND COACHES IN GISBORNE

Gisborne Thistle and Albion Coaching work together to strengthen player and coach development across the club.

The focus is on improving the quality of the local environment - supporting coaches, developing players well and creating a clearer pathway from junior football into the youth game.

Albion brings additional technical support, coach development and player-development expertise into the club, while working alongside the people already coaching and leading football in Gisborne.

The intention is not to create something separate from Gisborne Thistle. It is to help make the football environment within the club stronger.

As players get older, Albion’s wider network can also provide additional development and opportunities where appropriate.

JUNIOR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

The early years should give players a good relationship with the ball, the game and the people around them.

Albion works with Gisborne Thistle to provide additional development opportunities for junior players, with sessions built around lots of football, good coaching and an appropriate level of challenge.

As players develop, the detail develops with them. They are gradually encouraged to recognise more of what is happening around them, make decisions for themselves and understand the game rather than simply follow instructions.

Just as importantly, young players should enjoy being there.

We want players who look forward to football, enjoy learning and want to keep coming back.

ALBION+

Ages 7–12

Albion+ provides additional football for young players who enjoy the game and want more opportunities to play and improve alongside their normal club football.

Sessions combine plenty of contact with the ball, purposeful games and age-appropriate football problems.

Players do not need to arrive as the best player in their team. They do need to enjoy football, be willing to learn and be comfortable trying things that do not always work first time.

The environment should challenge players while still feeling positive, supportive and enjoyable.

PRE-ACADEMY AND THE YOUTH PATHWAY

As players approach youth football, the demands naturally begin to change.

Pre-Academy helps players make that transition by introducing more detail, greater game understanding and increasing responsibility for their own football.

Players begin to think more about the relationships between space, pressure, teammates and opponents, while continuing to develop technically.

Albion also works alongside Gisborne Thistle coaches through this stage so that the development of the player and the development of the coaching environment remain connected.

Where players are ready for the next challenge, the pathway continues towards CDL Youth football.

GOALKEEPER ACADEMY

Goalkeeping has its own demands and needs dedicated attention.

The Gisborne Thistle Goalkeeper Academy, led by Mark Baple, provides specialist development for young goalkeepers within the club.

Sessions focus on the technical and tactical requirements of the position, while keeping goalkeepers connected to the wider game.

That includes handling and shot stopping, but also movement, positioning, decision-making, communication, distribution and the goalkeeper’s role when their team has the ball.

The aim is to give Gisborne goalkeepers access to regular specialist coaching without separating their development from the football happening around them.

COACH DEVELOPMENT

An important part of the relationship is developing the coaches who work with Gisborne players every week.

Albion supports Gisborne Thistle coaches through practical workshops, observation, mentoring, session support and ongoing football conversations.

This is not about every coach delivering the same session or coaching in exactly the same way.

It is about developing greater shared understanding across the club - how players learn, what good development looks like and how coaches can help without continually solving the game for the player.

The stronger the local coaching group becomes, the stronger the environment becomes for everybody.

ACCESS TO WIDER OPPORTUNITIES

Most of a young player’s development should happen within a strong local football environment.

There will, however, be occasions when a player would benefit from something additional.

Through Albion, players can potentially access further development through environments such as:

Albion Academy
Individual Development Programmes
High-performance and specialist camps
Goalkeeper development
Selected tournament opportunities
Additional technical support
Advice around appropriate next steps in the game

Those opportunities are there to add to what players receive in Gisborne, not replace it.

The goal is for players to be able to develop well at Gisborne Thistle while knowing that further challenge and support can be accessed when it is needed.

HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES

Albion and Gisborne Thistle Holiday Programmes give players plenty of football during the school holidays.

There are lots of games, time with the ball, different challenges and opportunities to play with new teammates.

The programme is designed for different ages and levels of experience, with coaches adjusting activities and challenges to suit the players in front of them.

The emphasis is simple: good football experiences, good people and plenty of playing.

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ALBION TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

CHRIS GREATHOLDER

Founder & Technical Director, Albion Coaching

Chris founded Albion Coaching in 2017 and leads the organisation’s technical direction, methodology, partnerships and wider player and coach-development work.

An NZF/OFC A Licence coach, FIFA Diploma in Coach Development holder and Advanced Coach Developer, Chris is currently completing the OFC/NZF Pro Diploma. His experience includes National League head coaching, technical leadership across club environments, advanced coach development and work within national and international football.

Chris remains heavily involved on the grass, working directly with players, coaches and partner clubs. Within the Gisborne Thistle partnership, his role includes supporting the club’s technical direction, player-development pathway and ongoing development of its coaches.

Albion has grown from Chris providing additional coaching to young players in Hawke’s Bay into a wider football-development organisation working across clubs, schools, coaches and performance environments.

STEPHEN HOYLE

Technical Advisor, Albion Coaching

Stephen supports Albion’s technical direction and coach-development work, bringing extensive experience from professional and international football.

He is currently Head Coach of Newcastle Jets Women in the A-League Women and has previously worked within New Zealand’s national-team pathway. Stephen is also an experienced NZF Advanced Coach Developer, supporting coaches working across the game.

An A Licence coach undertaking the Pro Diploma, Stephen contributes insight around coaching, player development, methodology and high-performance environments, helping connect Albion’s work to the professional game.