We caught up with the BBFC Mens Prem Coach and Womens Prem Coach for an insight into their goals for the 2025 Season ahead
Mens Premier League Coach - Benny Ahern
What motivated you to take on the role of head coach for our men’s Premier League team, and what excites you most about this opportunity?
The role has been in the pipeline for a few years now, and it feels like the right time. We have a bunch of young players in the squad whom I’ve coached in the past, so it’s super exciting to step into this new role and share this adventure with them in a more senior, competitive environment.
Can you share a bit about your coaching philosophy and how you plan to approach building a competitive and cohesive team?
At its core, football is a game meant to be enjoyed by both the players and the local spectators on the sideline. My philosophy is to bring out the fluid, diverse Byron style and turn it into an attractive, possession-based style of football. I aim to allow individuals the freedom to explore and express what they do best while working cohesively as a team.
What are your short- and long-term goals for the team this season, both on and off the field?
This year is all about rebuilding. We’re focusing on nurturing young talent and bringing the community back down to the grounds. While we’ll be competing for the title, the bigger priority is establishing a strong foundation and creating space for younger players to grow into senior figures.
Looking ahead, we aim to use this base in future seasons to reestablish the dominance the club has enjoyed over the last decade. Our goal is to become the most feared club in the region once again.
Womens Premier League Coach - Jimmy Gill
What drew you to coaching the women’s Premier League team, and what excites you most about working with this group of players?
This is my fifth year working with the women’s Premier League team. What initially drew me to the role was the potential for growth and development within the squad. I also had prior experience coaching women at academies in the USA, which gave me confidence to take on the challenge. When I first started at the club, many of the players hadn’t been taught a lot of the basics, so I saw it as a great opportunity to help them develop.
What excites me most is seeing how much stronger the team gets every year. There’s still room for improvement, and I believe that with hard work, we can continue building on that momentum and become a real force this season.
How do you plan to bring out the best in the team and foster a winning mentality this season?
To be honest, my focus is on making training sessions as enjoyable as possible for the girls. They improve the most when they’re getting plenty of touches on the ball and spending time playing together as a team.
The more time they spend on the field, the more we can work on their technical skills and build a strong bond
within the group. Luckily, the girls already have a natural drive and a winning mentality, which makes my job much easier!
What are some of the key strengths of the team, and how do you plan to build on them?
Our key strengths are our ball possession and the cohesiveness of the team. We’ve had almost the same squad for the past three years, so the players know each other very well and play to each other’s strengths.
To build on this, I plan to continue working on possession drills and attacking plays while also challenging the team to address some of our weaknesses. This approach will help us improve our overall game and stay competitive.
What role do you see the community playing in supporting the team’s success, and how can fans get involved?
The grand final at the end of last year was a perfect example of how much community support can impact the team’s success. That was the largest crowd I’ve ever seen for a women’s game at the Rec fields, and their support really gave the team the push they needed to secure the win.
It would be great to see even more promotion of the women’s games so that people can share them on social media and help draw bigger crowds to the fields. The energy and encouragement from the fans can make a huge difference!