Eesa provides inspiration to his local community through Birmingham City’s Community Trust education pathway

Eesa Sawyers, like many young people, always dreamt of playing professional football for his home club. Birmingham City. His interest was first ignited at 15 years old when he attended football camps and took part in the club’s Kick’s programme. As he progressed through school, he witnessed his friends take education less seriously, but his involvement in Birmingham City and its Community Trust encouraged Eesa to consider an alternate option if his dream of playing professionally wasn’t realised.

When he left school, Eesa committed to full-time education with Birmingham City Community Trust where he completed a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Sport whilst remaining passionate and dedicated to his playing career. After passing the course, he enrolled in the Degree programme with the University of South Wales and EFL Trust. The three-year course allowed him to gain an insight into all levels of sports coaching ranging from schools delivery to grassroots football as well as access to observing Elite Coaches within Birmingham City FC Academy. After completing the course and gaining his Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development, Eesa continued his involvement with the club and became a coach at the holiday clubs he had once attended as his younger self.

After successful completion of his 3-year coaching degree, Eesa was successful in his application to join the Trust full time as a Primary Stars & Schools Sports Coach.  Having been encouraged and inspired by his hometown club to ensure he had a pathway to follow should he not be in the minority of people who make it to the top level of sport, Eesa began to share his expertise and experiences in Primary schools and talk to schoolchildren about the importance of having a career goal but also having a back-up plan cemented by education.

Eesa’s journey has been one of continuous progression and fast forward three years and he is now delivering his first cohort of EFL Trust ‘FIT FANS’, aimed at helping BCFC fans to improve their lifestyles. He has also become a mentor to a member of the FIT FANS cohort who will run their own groups in the near future.

With such passion for the game and as an individual who has grown up in the local community just a stone’s throw from St. Andrews, Eesa’s journey acts as one of inspiration to the younger generations that he influences through his role as a Sports Coach.