Congratulations to Kieran Henderson who has been nominated for the Junior Coach of the Year award at Aberdeen’s Sports Awards 2016.

Kieran is a 17-year-old volunteer football coach with Aberdeen FC Community Trust who has dedicated over 500 hours of his time to volunteering. His development, commitment and desire to help others through football is nothing short of inspirational.

Kieran has autism and faces different challenges every day in progressing his career as a young coach. Despite this, Kieran has never once let his condition affect him or stop him from getting to where he is today. He is an inspiration to other young people who aspire to be a coach. Kieran motivates and engages with young people through coaching with his energy, enthusiasm and desire to be the best coach he can be and his commitment to giving back to those who have helped him is something to be proud of for someone so young in their career.

Since starting as a volunteer with AFCCT just over a year ago, Kieran has now completed his first aid qualification as well as his 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 SFA ‘Early Touches’ coaching badges, these qualifications alone show his development.

Kieran coaches regularly throughout the week, helping young people from across the city improve their football skills with AFCCT’s Football Centres. This is not all Kieran does for AFCCT, he has also completed his Dementia Friends Training and volunteers his help at the Dementia Friendly programmes, taking part in Health Walks and Technogym sessions to support those affected by dementia stay involved in the community as well as keeping fit and healthy.

What’s more, Kieran gives up his summer holidays to volunteer at AFCCT’s Soccer School holiday programme where he works as part of a team coaching over 400 children. He also coaches voluntarily at three AFCCT Football Centres based at Sheddocksley and Aberdeen Sports Village as well as at the AFCCT Equity Centre where he works with young people from the local Mosque to help use football as a way of supporting the Muslim Community in Aberdeen access footballing opportunities around their cultural commitments.

Kieran is now enrolled with North East Scotland College and is studying Level 4 Sport and Fitness to gain more knowledge and qualifications. Kieran has also committed to volunteering at Northfield Academy’s S1 programme as he was keen to give something back to his school.

Furthermore, he is passionate about giving something back to his local community, volunteering to coach is local football team North Star Under 10s. Kieran grew up in Northfield, attending Northfield Academy and knows how difficult it can be for young people to access coaching opportunities.

Kieran works with over 20 young people per year through North Star, and has developed as a young coach through these volunteering opportunities, he is now manager of the team after his hard work and dedication. Kieran’s main motivation to be a coach is to “help inspire others to become as good a player as they can be”.

This is just a short introduction to a young man who has overcome exceptional challenges to enjoy the success he has gained so far and has no intention of stopping as he strives for further success.

Best of luck Kieran from everyone at AFCCT!