20 years ago, Adrian Dove walked into The Albion Foundation for the very first time.
Fresh after leaving school at 16, he was unsure which next step to take, but soon found his home after becoming an apprentice at his boyhood club's charity partner.
Now Head of Sport, and ready to celebrate his 20th working anniversary on July 4, Adrian sits down with us to discuss a range of topics. From the origins of the Foundation, to what makes a good role model, this Q&A covers it all.
Take it away, Ade...
What made you join the Foundation 20 years ago?
"It was all due to coming out of school, not really knowing what I wanted to do. My dad had a role within the academy, it was just a part-time scouting role at the time. He bumped into the assistant director at the time, Jamie Bunch, he put it out there to my dad about there being an apprenticeship role in the football in the community.
"A week later, I signed a letter to say I’d go on a two-year apprenticeship, which would mean I’d do my C-Licence at the same time. There was a lot of learning in those two years, I got put into every scenario which helped me to develop. I did disability work, education, football, which was the main driver at that stage – it gave me all of my stripes to build from there.
"I partnered up with some really good mentors along the way, I tried to be a sponge and take it all in. That was the first journey, then I got a small contract of around 12 hours after a year-and-a-half, then got 24 hours quite soon afterwards. I took a community coach role after two years, which took me into full-time coaching."
What was the Foundation like when you joined?
"I’m really proud to sit here and say that I’ve been here for the 20 years, from when we first started, we were looking at a group of no more than 30 including a couple of casuals and volunteers. We still did what we did, but have now grown with quality and has made us far more present across the Sandwell Borough.
"Where we’re sat now at Ray Hall Lane, is absolutely fantastic. Where we started was totally different, I’ve had both sides of it. When we first started, we had what is now the Academy site on Halfords Lane, then we moved into Smethwick, which did us well for nearly 13 years, it just didn’t have that home of football feel.
“It’s a great place to move forward and develop the Foundation."
What sort of role models have you had over the years?
"I’ve got a lot of role models; I took a lot from everyone early on. I mentioned Jamie Bunch, but also Chris Holloway, Jon Ross, Hayley Probert, John Beetison, Scott Richards, Dave Lawrence & many more– they all looked after me during my first few years. Of course, our Director Rob Lake too, has helped me along the way. I think they’re all good characters, great mentality, it wasn’t always easy for us.
"I say it to the team now, the hours they get as a community coach, it was everything that made me where I was now. It was four nights a week, a Saturday morning club straight into a home matchday package. We talk about now being a part of a family, I hope I’ve helped to instil that we are in this together and we are part of a team. We’re here more than we are at home – let’s make it the best environment to be in."
What would you say to someone in your shoes 20 years ago?
"I’d say to dig deep, it’s not always easy. I keep referring back to earning your stripes, you’ve got to put yourself out of your comfort zone.
"The most I’ve learned is when I’m out of my comfort zone. It’s important to enjoy the role."
What's the best experience you’ve had at the Foundation?
"If I reflect back now on how we move people through, though I appreciated it, I got moved into a higher role quite soon. I probably tried to do too much in delivery as well as develop the area. I had some failure in that area, but never wanted to stop trying to better things.
"The thing I like the most in football development, I can sit here knowing we’ve got something for everyone. If we can have something for someone at 18-months old, to doing walking football at an elderly age, we’ve got something for all. I feel I’ve had a part in that, and others who have played a part in that.
"Some of my best experiences have been going to other countries, which was probably something that kept me here in the early days. I’ve been out to Australia twice, been with the Premier League to China, to Sweden, to Nigeria – places I would never think to go to – without the Foundation I wouldn’t have got that chance."
If you didn’t join the Foundation, what would you be doing?
"Someone asked me this the other day actually, I really don’t know, I think what I’ve learned is that I love being around high-end sport. We both went to the Blind finals on Saturday which was great, just being in a competitive environment, and enjoying sport.
"I enjoy the competition side of things a lot. So I’d definitely be doing sport, if not that, my work experience was being a chef, so I guess I’d be involved in food in some way – two very contrasting careers!"
What’s the best thing about working at the Foundation?
"Every day is different. You never know what’s around the corner, whether it be new kit, a new member of staff, someone asking for advice – again just every day is a new learning curve for you. As long as that stays the same, I’ll be passionate for the role as long as the Foundation needs me.
Now, being a member of the Senior Leadership Team, how do you use all of this experience to help the Foundation?
"I think sharing my past experiences, gives a bit of a realisation sometimes. You have to instil your ways to make sure people understand goals and finances. What I’ve done for them, is just being a good role model, a good person. I like to think I have high standards, there’s times to be serious, but also times to enjoy what you do.
"If you can make your role enjoyable, that's what it's all about."
What does the Foundation mean to you?
"It means a lot, I don’t know any different. People can probably see how much it means to me, whether I’m too protective over small things, but I think I treat things like my own.
"It’s only because I care, what I’ve done for the Foundation and what it’s done for me, it’s a good match – long may it continue."
20 years here, how proud are you to be celebrating that milestone?
"I’m proud, I didn’t know what I was going to do 20 years ago. To say I’m still here 20 years later, that journey of growing our own is really great.
"I’m an Albion fan, I’ve been through nearly every role in the organisation, and now I’ve got to a really great point – I couldn’t be prouder."
