This week’s MFA Coaching Spotlight highlights two standout coaches from Bradbury Ambarvale FC: Tony and Stacey. Both bring a powerful blend of purpose, positivity, and leadership to their teams. Whether through strategic development or creating inclusive environments, their efforts are helping shape not just better players, but stronger, more confident young people.
Their coaching journeys, though unique, are united by a shared commitment to fostering growth, teamwork, and a love for the game across every level of experience.
Tony – U12 Girls
For Tony, coaching is about much more than producing great players, it’s about guiding young people to become their best selves through sport. Over six years with Bradbury Ambarvale FC, Tony has shaped his coaching philosophy around developing the whole player: technically, tactically, physically, and mentally.
“Soccer is more than just a game; it’s a vehicle for teaching discipline, teamwork, resilience, and respect.”
Tony’s own journey began as a passionate player. As he transitioned into coaching, he discovered a deeper calling, supporting others to succeed and thrive. What started as helping with younger teams eventually became a full coaching career, backed by formal training, a growing knowledge base, and years of lived experience.
“Every player I’ve coached has taught me something new. Watching them grow, overcome challenges, and find confidence, that’s where the real inspiration comes from.”
Tony’s coaching style has evolved significantly over the years, shaped by experience, reflection, and a deep understanding of player development. He carefully tailors his approach to suit each age group and stage of growth. With younger teams like the U7s, his focus is on creating a fun, supportive environment where players can build confidence and learn the fundamentals through play. As his players mature, so too does his coaching. By the time they reach the U12 level, Tony introduces more structured sessions that emphasise tactical awareness, skill refinement, and the mental resilience needed to work together and compete as a cohesive unit.
“Coaching isn’t one-size-fits-all. I design every session to challenge and engage, but also to empower players to take responsibility for their growth.”
Tony is passionate about long-term development. His age-based roadmap ensures players are learning the right things at the right time, starting with fun and fundamentals in early years and gradually layering in more complex skills, tactics, and physical development as players mature.
A strong believer in tracking progress, Tony assesses his players through multiple lenses: technical improvement, tactical understanding, physical growth, and mental resilience. He also focuses heavily on team contribution, how players communicate, support one another, and grow together.
Among his most cherished moments are the small wins with big meaning, like the smiles and fist pumps after five consecutive passes in a U7 game, or watching his U10 team win a knockout tournament through pure grit and belief. More recently, seeing the camaraderie and self-belief flourish within his U11 group has been especially rewarding.
Stacey – U10 Girls MSAP
Stacey’s coaching journey began with a simple opportunity, and quickly became a passion. Now coaching the U10 Girls MSAP team at Bradbury Ambarvale FC, she leads with heart, creating a team culture built on encouragement, effort, and mutual respect.
“I coach with a growth-over-results mindset. It’s not about perfection or winning, it's about helping every player feel valued, capable, and part of something bigger than themselves.”
Stacey believes a strong team starts with connection. She encourages her players to communicate, support one another, and take pride in their role, whether it’s a tackle, a pass, or a moment of leadership. Her sessions focus on skill-building through fun, and her players know that giving their best effort always matters more than the scoreboard.
“We often talk about what makes a great team. It’s about lifting each other up, and when they do, the whole team becomes stronger.”
Coaching at the MSAP level has brought new challenges, and Stacey has embraced every one of them. After completing her Foundation of Football course, she incorporated two key lessons into her approach: using “we” to create shared ownership, and staying flexible when something isn’t working. This adaptability has made her sessions more responsive and player-focused.
Her training plans are shaped by post-match reflections, often using match footage to spot strengths and identify learning opportunities. She keeps informal notes on each player to track their individual progress—focusing on confidence, decision-making, and emotional growth just as much as technique.
“Coaching this team has taught me that how players feel on the field can influence how they perform more than anything else.”
One standout moment for Stacey came when her team recently executed everything they’d been working on under pressure. Their resilience and teamwork moved her to tears—a moment the players found both hilarious and heartwarming.
To keep spirits high, Stacey also injects fun into training, quick games like bullrush or lighthearted huddles about dinner plans remind her players that football is as much about joy and community as it is about learning.
Together, Tony and Stacey are shaping a football culture at Bradbury Ambarvale FC that values effort, development, and connection above all else. They are proof that great coaching isn’t just about tactics and results—it’s about creating an environment where players can grow in confidence, character, and belief.
Their leadership continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of their players, their club, and the wider Macarthur football community.
Thank you, Tony and Stacey, for leading with passion, purpose, and positivity.
