Soccerscene the only online publication dedicated to the Australian and international football industry. It serves as a practical guide for those involved in the business of running a football club and bringing readers up-to-date research and development across all football matters providing insights, discussion and information related to topics that matter.
The Football Coaching Life with Leah Blayney: “Part of the growth is having people around you who you trust”
Leah Blayney is the Head Coach of the Young Matildas and the Future Matildas, which she combines with teaching at Westfield Sports High.
For Season 3, Episode 7 of the Football Coaching Life Podcast, Gary Cole spoke with Leah in November last year about how her love for the game began in the Blue Mountains in NSW with Wentworth Falls Warriors and then Macarthur Rams U14 Boys, where she was the only girl in the team.
Leah headed to College in the USA and that is where she started her coaching journey. Her career saw her play professionally in Australia, USA and Sweden. She also featured for the Young Matildas and the Matildas before her career was cut short by injury.
She has coached with FNSW and the NTC Program, has been Assistant Coach with Western Sydney Wanderers, Assistant Matildas Coach and was also included in the FA Female Coach Mentor Programs. Leah went to the Rio Olympics and the World Cup in France as a scout and analyst.
Leah took over from Gary Van Egmond as Young Matildas Coach in 2019 and took them to the AFC U19 Championship. She is now busy preparing the team after the 2022 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She talks frankly about developing young players and the importance of tournaments and game time for fringe Matildas.
Empowering female coaches as well as players is high on Leah’s to-do list.
Leah’s ‘One Piece of Wisdom’ was: ‘Be consistent. Be consistent in your messaging, in how you treat your group, in everything you do. Not everybody is going to like the decisions you make, that’s a part of the role, but your consistency in that space goes a long way.’
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.
Round Two of the Growing Football Community Grant Program is now open for local clubs to apply, it opened on August 21st and will go until September 16th.
In light of the successful FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, Football Australia introduced the Growing Football Fund to further boost the development of women’s football across the country and after a successful first round of recipients, applications opened up again for more grassroots clubs.
Supported by CommBank, this fund offers community clubs and associations the opportunity to apply for grants of up to $5,000. These grants aim to support initiatives and programs focused on enhancing and promoting women’s and girls’ football.
Key dates
Application open dates:
10am AEST, Wednesday 21 August 2024 – 10pm AEST, Monday 16 September 2024
Project delivery period:
Clubs/associations will have up to 12 months to utilise the funding.
Grant objectives
The main goal of the Community Grant Program is to offer concrete support to clubs and associations, with an emphasis on initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining women and girls in football.
Additionally, the program seeks to:
– Create positive experiences for both new and returning football participants that encourage continued involvement in the sport.
– Enhance the education and development of community coaches, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver high-quality football experiences.
– Assist clubs and associations in fostering inclusive and safe environments to help retain women and girls within their clubs.
The collective impact of these objectives will significantly contribute to Football Australia and CommBank’s shared goal of advancing gender equity and creating quality environments for women and girls within football.
Grant Guidelines + link
The Guidelines provide information on all things related to the grant, including eligibility criteria, type of activities that will or will not be funded, assessment criteria and more. Any club or association wishing to apply for the Growing Football Fund must review these guidelines.
A document outlining the conditions of the Grant can be found here.
In March 2024, the inaugural round of 121 clubs or associations was confirmed a Growing Football Community Grant.
To contact for more details, the email is provided below:
