From Pitch to Player Development

Hartlepool College has strengthened its sports coaching provision with the appointment of highly rated coach and semi-professional footballer Josh Scott as Head of Football Development.

Josh, 24, joins the college while continuing to compete as a striker for Stockton Town, bringing professional playing, coaching and physiotherapy experience to students both on and off the pitch. Despite the recent heartbreak of a 2-0 defeat to Hednesford in the Northern Premier League play-offs, Josh is already focused on helping develop the next generation of sporting talent across the region.

“It was hard to swallow that defeat, as we have had a lot of setbacks this year,” Josh admitted. To be in that position and to put up the fight we did, we did well in the end. We want to go one better next year and try to kick on to secure promotion.”

After progressing through Hartlepool United’s academy and earning a professional contract with Mansfield Town, Josh gained valuable experience across the non-league game before joining Stockton Town 18 months ago. Alongside his playing career, Josh has built a respected coaching network across Hartlepool after launching his own coaching business in 2023. He now works with more than 100 players aged between five and 23 through group, team and one-to-one sessions.

Josh also operates as a qualified physiotherapist from his base at FC Hartlepool’s Grayfields, specialising in treating musculoskeletal injuries for local youth and senior players. At Hartlepool College, he will work closely with students from across the campus, ensuring competitive football opportunities are available regardless of academic course.

He said, “It is great to be part of the college. Having been in the full-time environment myself, it is exciting to come in and see how the players are developing week in and week out. We are working with sports coaching students and players from courses across the college. They train several times a week and compete regularly, while still focusing on their studies. We are getting engineers and bricklayers playing the game, too. It does not matter what course they are on because they are still getting the opportunity to develop and compete.”

The appointment marks another step in the college’s ambitions to grow its sporting offer and create clear development pathways for students. Former Hartlepool and Doncaster Rovers winger Ian Clark, Hartlepool College’s Head of High Performance Sport, believes Josh’s arrival highlights the direction the college is heading.

Clark said: “Bringing Josh into the fold is a massive statement of intent for Hartlepool College and a clear sign of the direction we are going. We are fully committed to developing fresh sporting talent, but equally, we want to develop students as well-rounded people. Josh has experienced the highs of professional academies and the demands of the non-league game, alongside building successful coaching and physio businesses. That real-world experience is invaluable for our students to learn from.”

Working alongside Clark and fellow coach Ethan Wood, Josh is eager to help students pursue careers in sport, whether as players, coaches or within the wider industry. He said: “We help students apply what they learn in the classroom on the pitch, and it is rewarding to see them develop their own coaching sessions too.Some students have the mentality to go as high as possible, and it is about helping manage expectations while showing them the opportunities available within the game. We have had athletes go on to sign professional contracts with clubs, but there are also massive opportunities within non-league football and coaching.”

Ultimately, Josh believes confidence, attitude and personal development are just as important as performances on the pitch. “I would love to see players go on and compete at good levels and become key members of their teams,” he said.

“But it would also be great to see them grow in confidence and have the tools to succeed in whatever they choose to do, whether that is football or another career path. It is about teaching respect and helping people develop in every aspect of life.”