The organisers: Roy Winfield and Kevin Parkinson from the West Yorkshire League, Billy Miller, West Riding County FA and West Yorkshire League chairman Barry Chaplin, County FA senior development officer Andy Shuttleworth and Harrogate Railway assistant boss Lee Ashforth
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Harrogate Railway manager Billy Miller imparted some of his vast knowledge to West Yorkshire League managers and coaches at West Riding County FA HQ today.
Miller, a sports lecturer at Askham Bryan College, ran a coaching seminar and demo after being approached by the West Riding and the West Yorkshire League, whose organisers hailed the event as a success.
The West Yorkshire League is a FA Charter Standard League and their officials wanted to run a training day, in association with the County FA, to help their clubs learn new ideas.
Miller, who manages Railway in the Evo Stik Division One North on a low budget, said: “The biggest thing for us is selling to them that we weren’t trying to preach to them.
“All we were trying to do was share best practice, share ideas between them and us. There were some good things that came from the managers and coaches that me and Ash (assistant Lee Ashforth) will take away and incorporate into what we do.
“I really enjoy doing events like this. The response from the managers and coaches this morning was second to none.”
Harrogate Railway manager Billy Miller leads the coaching demo on the Fleet Lane pitch
Billy Miller gives advice to managers and coaches from clubs in the West Yorkshire League
Billy Miller talking to the coaches and managers watching on
In the first two hours, Miller gave a lecture which included insights into how his Railway team is run on a matchday and the way he deals with problems on-and-off-the-pitch.
He recalled experiences from his two-years at Station View along with some from his days at the helm of Liversedge in the NCEL.
Training and man-management methods were among the issues discussed.
In the afternoon, the participants watched Miller and his Railway assistant Lee Ashforth give a coaching demo, using young players from Nostell Miners Welfare.
The training day was organised by the West Yorkshire League’s Charter Standard co-ordinator Kevin Parkinson, who recently down as general secretary after 23 years in the role.
Parkinson had approached the County FA to help run the day and he said: “It’s first of its kind that we have done and it is great that it has been a success.
“It is about the league improving its standards and today forms a major part of it.
“Having met Billy a few weeks ago, I think we picked a great guy to run it. He’s got charisma, knowledge, experience. He can relate to our level which is important.”
Miller was the man chosen to lead the day after a recommendation from the County’s Senior Development Officer, Andy Shuttleworth – the former Guiseley, Bradford (Park Avenue) and Harrogate midfielder.
Shuttleworth said: “I’ve played under Billy and I’ve said to him and Ash that I’ve played at a lot of Non League clubs and (playing at Liversedge under him) was the best changing room I’ve ever been in.
“When we talked to Kevin about what he wanted to get out of the day, I thought because of playing under Billy at Liversedge, he would be a good choice for today.
“When I played under Billy, there was an enjoyment factor and I thought the way he dealt with his players was tremendous.
“He said this morning that there are players who continue to play under him, but without getting a big wage and they turn down other clubs and they do that for a reason.
“I think the message that he’ll get across today is one that the coaches will take home and remember.”
More information about how Harrogate Railway are run can be found HERE – article written back in December when this site was allowed access all areas at Station View.