SOCCER: Ipswich-based Danny Laws, who is head coach at the Bury St Edmunds Football School, has achieved his UEFA A licence, the English Football Association's advanced coachingLaws, Suffolk's FA youth team manager, said: "I am really pleased to have gained the highest recognised coaching award you can get in Europe.

By Elvin King

SOCCER

IPSWICH-based Danny Laws, who is head coach at the Bury St Edmunds Football School, has achieved his UEFA A licence, the English Football Association's advanced coaching

Laws, Suffolk's FA youth team manager, said: "I am really pleased to have gained the highest recognised coaching award you can get in Europe. Not many people have managed to achieve it.

"There were seven coaches from the Manchester United Academy on the course, as well as two representatives from the Lesotho FA in South Africa and one from the Japanese FA. This is world class training."

Laws first started the course in July 2001, when he had to attend an initial two-week residential at Lilleshall under the guidance of FA staff coaches. This was followed by a year of personal study and completion of a logbook, recording training sessions and fitness sessions undertaken throughout the whole of the year.

At the end of the year, Laws returned to Lilleshall for a second two-week training session, culminating in a final assessment, consisting of two 25 minute sessions, one on attacking and one on defending.

"I have learned a lot, in terms of experience that I can bring back to the Bury Football School," added Laws.

"I met some interesting people, including ex-England captain David Platt, who was a real gentleman to work with, very friendly and a very good coach."