One2Pro: The former Premier League player who has developed a game-changing app in Australia

Currently residing in Western Australia, former Premier League footballer Aaron Tighe has recently launched the One2Pro app, providing footballers of all ages with an innovative skills-based program to challenge themselves.

Tighe had stints at Luton Town and Leicester City before his career ended through injury at the young age of 22, before eventually moving into coaching.

After coaching youth players in the UK, he moved to Australia and ultimately set up his own skills academy down under.

Tighe’s academy looked to improve the individual skills of players through a specialised program and after running it for around 20 years, he looked to technology to expand the program to a wider audience.

“About 4 years ago I was listening to an interview with Tony Robbins and he just mentioned if you are doing something really good and it’s offering some good support to people, think about how you can spread it to more people, to give more value,” Tighe told Soccerscene.

“That was when the idea came into my head to put the program, that I have been doing for 20 odd years, into a mobile phone app.”

The app provides users with 92 professional skills and techniques to master through 12 modules, with detailed video instructions provided.

What sets the app apart from others on the market however, is the specialised feedback you receive from professional coaches to help footballers improve their ability.

“The unique difference to the app is that you actually get to work with a physical coach,” Tighe said.

“On a lot of the apps out there, when you look at the reviews, they are very much – download the app, here’s the content, follow the instructions and off you go.

“I thought what would be different and unique would be for the user to watch the videos for the instructions of the skills, but then they upload their own video of them doing those skills and pass them on to an actual coach.

“The coach will then comment back, score your efforts through a medal system (bronze, silver and gold) and guide you through the program.

“It’s a very effective one-on-one coaching program.”

Creator of One2Pro Aaron Tighe.

Tighe, as a youngster, imagined developing his own skills with the close assistance from a professional player, and this became a major motivation in creating an app for the next generation.

“One of the reasons why I developed the app was I remember as a kid myself playing on the street with your mates and imagining a professional footballer or coach coming down to the local park or street to teach us some skills,” he said.

“I thought to myself It’s impossible to go physically everywhere, so the app would be the best thing.”

The One2Pro app has only been on the market since earlier this year, however, it has garnered a following from regions all across the world.

“We’ve had a lot of take up in the US, Australia, UK, Belgium, Netherlands, Africa and even the Middle East,” Tighe said.

“It’s very exciting to see this thing hit different corners of the world and see players use it from all over the globe.”

Due to its popularity, Tighe has received constant feedback from users who continue to use the app to improve their skillsets.

“They’ve said It’s simple to use, they find the skills challenging and interesting to learn,” he said.

“A big one for me is they have improved their confidence. The players will turn around and say I got the feedback and it’s given me more confidence in my ability to master the skill.”

Although the app is relatively new, Tighe does have plans to expand it in the future and may look to use the established template for other sports.

“Ultimately what I’d love to do first is expand this out to schools and clubs where they can work with their own coaches if they want to,” he said.

“In the future I would also like to investigate whether I could use a similar formula for any sport or discipline, whether tennis or cricket.”

For more information and to download the One2Pro app, visit the company’s website here: https://www.one2pro.com

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Philip Panas is a sports journalist with Soccerscene. He reports widely on football policy and industry matters, drawing on his knowledge and passion of the game.

Scott Miller: From coaching to spearheading Gen AI sports technology at iReel

Following a distinguished coaching career that included reaching the heights of the Premier League, Scott Miller is now embracing the next chapter of his professional journey.

No stranger to Australian football, Miller was Head Coach of the Newcastle Jets Men’s team and as an assistant coach for the Socceroos leading up to the 2014 World Cup. With extensive international experience from his time at Fulham FC, where he witnessed everything coaching had to offer, Miller decided in 2023 that a new direction was needed.

Now, as the Chief Commercial Officer at iReel, a Gen AI sports technology company, Miller combines his passion for coaching and sports technology to deliver valuable solutions to sporting organisations. iReel’s vision is to become the leading provider of Gen AI in sport, and Miller is at the forefront of this innovative journey.

In this interview with Soccerscene, Miller reflects on his 17 years in coaching, the lessons he’s learned from working overseas compared to Australia, how iReel presented itself as an opportunity, and why sports technology is essential in today’s sporting landscape.

You’ve had experience from the Premier League to the A-League. How has your journey been so far?

Scott Miller: My background originally stems from playing in the Victorian Premier League. I signed with former NSL team the Gippsland Falcons as a youth and came through their youth system, but I didn’t make a senior appearance due to a serious leg injury. This injury gave me clarity about the longevity of a career in sport as an athlete, which led me to pursue a degree in exercise science at ACU in Melbourne.

During that time, my interest in physical performance and its alignment with football grew. I took the initiative to make as many contacts overseas as possible, which was quite a challenge pre-LinkedIn, relying on handwritten letters. I was fortunate to have family in London, which allowed me to explore opportunities there. I landed a role at Fulham FC, starting in their academy system and eventually working with the first team. Within six months, I was offered a full-time contract with the Premier League team, marking the beginning of an exciting 10-year journey.

My time at Fulham was filled with learning opportunities, including earning my UEFA A license and a degree in sports psychology. I worked with top-level managers like Chris Coleman, Roy Hodgson, Mark Hughes, Martin Jol, René Meulensteen, and Felix Magath. These experiences helped shape my career, leading to a role as an assistant coach, where we achieved multiple top-10 finishes and reached the 2010 Europa League final against Atletico Madrid—a highlight of my time at Fulham.

Were you always looking to get into coaching, or did your injury force your hand?

Scott Miller: Coaching wasn’t my initial plan, but it became a natural evolution for me. Roy Hodgson, in particular, inspired me with his methodology and the impact he had on players. With my background in high performance, football knowledge, and a passion for psychology, I naturally transitioned into coaching. By the age of 27, I was delivering sessions to Premier League players, covering various aspects of training outside of tactics.

My journey into coaching continued when Ange Postecoglou invited me to join him as an assistant with the Socceroos, which was a fantastic experience. Later, he recommended me for the head coaching role at Newcastle Jets at just 33 years old. My time working with some of the best players and coaches in the Premier League was invaluable in shaping my approach to coaching.

What insights can you share from your experiences in the UK?

Scott Miller: Football culture in the UK is deeply ingrained—it’s more than just a sport; it’s a way of life. The Premier League is a global phenomenon, vastly larger in scale than the A-League, with financial and commercial resources that drive innovation and performance.

Another key difference is the highly competitive environment. The standards are ruthless, and if you’re not up to par, you’re quickly replaced. This applies to everyone, from coaches to players and support staff. I experienced this firsthand, often finding myself as the cultural link between outgoing and incoming managers due to my role as a central figure in the club’s operations.

The financial resources available in the Premier League also allow for greater opportunities for coaches to build sustainable careers. The remuneration packages are significantly different compared to the A-League, providing a stable foundation for those working in football.

You are now the Chief Commercial Officer at iReel. How did that transition come about?

Scott Miller: Coaching has been a significant part of my life since I was 24, but after nearly two decades, I felt the need for a new challenge. I wanted to innovate, develop new skills, and contribute to a space that is pioneering and future-focused. The opportunity to join iReel came at the perfect time.

James Doyle, the founder of iReel, reached out to me, and knowing him for some time, I was excited to join the venture. iReel is at the forefront of Gen AI in sports, and the chance to build technology that can transform the sporting industry was too good to pass up. It’s a different kind of challenge but one that’s equally rewarding.

Why would you recommend a career in sports technology for post-playing careers?

Scott Miller: Sports technology offers a unique opportunity for players looking to transition after their playing careers. The skills developed in sports, such as communication, leadership, and performance, are highly transferable to the tech space.

The sports tech industry allows you to stay involved in the sport while also building its future. Unlike coaching or analysis roles that are often dependent on performance results, a career in sports tech lets you create something from the ground up. It’s a powerful and fulfilling path that I highly recommend to anyone looking to stay connected to sports in a meaningful way.

For full information on iReel and to contact the team, you can do so here.

HydroMassage and CryoLounge+: Enhancing and improving recovery

The art of recovery has become an integral aspect for strength and conditioning coaches to manage, with clubs implementing different strategies when it comes to recovery sessions.

Whether that would include players completing a range of exercises or managing their workload after a long game, we have now seen technology such as HydroMassage and CryoLounge+ come into the fold to help athletes recover.

HydroMassage and CryoLounge+ are products of Tees Valley Innovation, a leading UK supplier of innovative fitness and wellness products and leisure consultancy.

They also work alongside WellnessSpace Brands to offer convenient, technology-based solutions for post-workout recovery.

HydroMassage is an innovative water massage lounge and bed for wellness and muscle recovery, utilising powerful waves of heated water massage to target specific body areas.

The personalised full-body heated massage has an interactive touchscreen that controls the speed and pressure of your massage, while also having the option to design your own massage.

Some of the benefits of HydroMassage include:

  • Temporary relief from minor pains and aches
  • Reduce stress and anxiety levels
  • Reduce muscle soreness, stiffness and tension
  • Increases circulation in local areas where massaged
  • Enhances feelings of well-being and deep relaxation

CryoLounge+ is an advanced recovery chair with complimentary cold and heat zones. The cold zones can lie between -1°C to -3°C which targets soreness or minor aches and pains. Whereas, the heat zones can be between 35°C to 46°C and can be applied in other areas of the body to provide a comfortable and safe experience.

This advanced technology to improve cold and heat treatment also has an interactive touchscreen that controls many features such as temperature, leg compression heat and cold to different parts of the body, and the auxiliary pad.

CryoLounge+ offers convenient and accessible treatments that can be customised to the athlete’s demands. They can select certain areas to ice while heat somewhere else on the body to reduce the discomfort often associated with targeted cold recovery.

These products have been used in places such as Leeds Beckett University for its students and community members who compete in sports or attend the gym and need a source of recovery. HydroMassage and CryoLounge+ can also be used at selected gyms and health and leisure centres that provide these products to their members.

Mark Dunstan, Interim Head of Sport and Active Lifestyles at Leeds Beckett University said about HydroMassage:

“We wanted to go a little bit beyond just putting another piece of fitness equipment,” he said on the Tess Valley Innovation YouTube channel.

“We wanted to broaden the service offers that we’ve got and when we came across HydroMassage, it just seems something that would really tick a massive box in terms of student health and well-being rather than just their physical health.

“It can also look after mental health by providing relaxation massages and it’s going to benefit students in many ways.”

For decades, various forms of massage such as cold and hot treatment have been mainly labour-intensive and can prove to be somewhat difficult to provide to certain athletes and clubs each day. However, with the introduction of HydroMassage and CryoLounge+, they both share similarities in their functions.

Both don’t need any specialist staff and it’s time-efficient only requiring 10-15 minutes of the athlete’s time. Therefore, a large number of athletes can access on-demand massages and cold or heat treatments whenever needed.

With the use of HydroMassage and CryoLounge+, sporting organisations and clubs can optimise the way they deal with recovery sessions. They won’t have to rely mainly on staff to deliver their massages and with these products, more athletes can potentially improve their game on the pitch with the right resources at their disposal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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