SHE’S worked with Thierry Henry and coached Theo Walcott, a dream for many, but Natalie Campbell’s time at Arsenal has made her ambitions much bigger.
The 24-year-old, of Hockwell Ring, is in her second year at London Metropolitan University, studying youth management and is hoping to open her own academy after she has finished her degree.
Having worked as a coach for Arsenal since her teens, she has first-hand experience of being a female in a male-dominated sport.
Natalie grew up in Lewsey Farm and she has been an avid Arsenal fan all her life.
“I have always loved Arsenal and I used to get really excited when Dennis Bergkamp or Thierry Henry stepped on the pitch,” she said.
Her love of the game developed into a passion for coaching. and when the Gunners fan had the chance to work for the team she has always loved, it was an opportunity she couldn’t let pass.
She said: “Working for Arsenal was an amazing opportunity for me and I am still so grateful.”
While at Arsenal she coached Premiership stars Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsay and Johan Djourou, and loved every minute of it.
Her daily routine consisted of football training with the youth team from 9am until 1pm, then from 1pm to 3pm she did tricks, flicks and skills, finishing her day coaching boys aged 14 to 18.
The young coach had to travel from Luton to the club’s training ground at London Colney, near St Albans, or to the Emirates stadium on a daily basis – fortunately with all her travel expenses taken care of by the club.
The other benefits were also a dream come true for a fan, with tickets to all the Arsenal games, even Champions League matches.
Despite the club being a male-dominated environment, Natalie says she said never received any negative comments.
“There was banter with the lads,” she said. “That just comes with the job.
“If you are strong minded you can handle it. I take it as part of the job, you’ve got to have a laugh.”
But Natalie says she did see one girl quit her job because she couldn’t take the “banter”.
She says, however, that women’s football is well supported at the club.
“Each player from the men’s team sponsors a player from the women’s team and they support each other.
“I think that’s really good to see and helps promote the women’s game.”
Natalie recently had to give up her coaching job because of a back injury, but still works as a scout for the club .
Picking out her best moments from her time there, she says: “One of my best memories was when I was at the academy and there was a lad who was a bit shy.
“He had a stutter and wasn’t very confident. He couldn’t do step overs but I helped him, and by the end of the two weeks he did it.
“He was so happy and his mum was so grateful to me that was one of the best moments for me, as a coach.”
Another highlight was when Thierry Henry made an impromptu appearance on the pitch while Natalie was training her players in tricks, flicks and skills.
As a fan, here highest point was when she went with the players and youth team to the Champions League final against Barcelona – which she calls “an amazing experience”.
Her advice to would-be coaches is to pick a team they don’t support, as “you see everything differently, the passion for the team as a supporter goes, it becomes your job”.
But she says her experience has been a fantastic one nonetheless.
“Coaching football is a great job, I love it and I wouldn’t change what I do. I feel very lucky to have all the opportunities that I have had.”