How to become a football scout?
Introducing our football scouting course mentor, Steve Simmons.
I can relate to anyone looking to become a 1st team professional football scout. I started scouting professionally aged 19 for Wycombe Wanderers without any academic qualifications, contacts or playing experience, whilst also being continuously told i was too young & had no chance in working in the industry, which only fuelled his motivation!
Rewinding back to when in school, I was very introverted & only ever passionate about football & analysing the game! I was that guy who was addicted to Championship Manager as it was before Football Manager, planning my tactics / shortlist at the back of my books!
I’ve always known it was the only industry I ever wanted to work in. Realistically I knew I was never going to be good enough to play professionally, particularly in struggling with anxiety/depression but also simply in not being good enough.
I’ve never even been particularly confident & certainly not extroverted but a very deep & analytical thinker! So, what was the next best thing with the above in mind that I could/wanted to do?
Becoming a professional football scout!
Through the basics that anyone can do in terms of being hard working, reliable, professional & in using initiative I went from cleaning tables in my local café at 16 years old to working in the industry where my heart is in becoming a professional scout aged 19 years old.
Within a few years I was then living my dream in working in the Premier League as a European Scout.
I’ve been fortunate enough to do the job I love for 20 years & nothing has been more rewarding in my professional career then giving back in helping aspiring scouts start their own journey into become a professional scout.
I will share my story with you & tips in thinking outside the box to how I got my foot in the door & where from then on through motivation alone the snowball effect began in me working in League 2 to then working in the Premier League within a relatively short period of time.
If you are self intrinsically motivated then I believe everything else follows in terms of hard work, desire to learn, improve & success as well as going the extra mile. With that, naturally comes opportunity.
Having worked in scouting for 20 years, i enjoy passing on my experience, insight, & own education in learning & working with elite level Chief Scouts & Managers to aspiring scouts, to help them begin their own career in football.
I also personally provide 1-1 support & mentorship to our aspiring football scouts.
What you will need is a good attitude & work ethic, which is essential!
