Our coaches really do enjoy the time they spend with our Mini Tigers and are fantastic at making sure each one has a smile on their face!
All of our coaches are experienced footballers themselves and call on the coaching they’ve received from a young age as a valuable insight to be able to offer the best coaching to our Mini Tigers. The majority of our coaches are Hants FA qualified (where we may have a coach who hasn’t yet qualified they will always be partnered and supervised by a qualified coach).
Mark Jones
Mini Tigers’ Manager and Head Coach
Mark played for Southampton school boys from U13 to U15 from 1988 to 1991. He then played for Eastleigh FC at U16 before moving to a very successful U18 Bashley side, reaching the last 16 of the FA Youth Cup and losing out to Wimbledon after beating the likes of Bristol Rovers, Southampton and Portsmouth along the way. Mark played locally for Hythe until the age of 26 years before an injury forced him to retire.
At the age of 29 years old, Mark became involved with coaching at Totton Rangers and then Totton & Eling FC – he has now been coaching for 16 years. During this time Mark managed a very successful team playing at the top of the tier and reaching three Hampshire Cup finals.
Oliver Wassell
Ollie was selected from trials at the age of 8 and invited to train with Matt Le Tissier Natural Coaching, receiving professional coaching from Francis Benali (ex Saints FC legend) and Jody Rivers (former Dorchester Town first team coach); Ollie was there from U9s through to U16s.
He started playing football in the U8s for Winsor Utd, moved to Romsey Town Youth FC, followed by a short stint at Wyvern FC before moving to Totton & Eling Youth FC where he settled firmly into his favoured position of left-back (ideal for a predominantly left-footed player).
Ollie started coaching at the age of 13 with Matt Le Tissier Natural Coaching then moved onto coaching for MLT in the Community before he was asked to join Totton & Eling Youth FC to coach the Mini Tigers. He has qualified as a Level 1 Hants FA coach. He has finished his final year studying for a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science and will be leaving us in September 2021 to study a batchelors degree in Sports and Exercise Science at Cardiff Metropolitan University. We shall all miss his sense of fun, creativity during sessions and the camaraderie he has with our Mini Tigers but look forward to having him back with us during the holidays.
Katelyn Wort
Katelyn started football at the age of 8 when she was picked up for Southampton Saints Girls and Ladies whilst playing for her school team. She went on to play there for four years before successfully trialling for the Hampshire Centre of Excellence U15s for a season. After this, Katelyn started playing for AFC Bournemouth U14s and then the first year of U16s whilst also playing for a boys’ team and Hampshire School Girls. She then made a move to Reading RTC U16s before making the move back to AFC Bournemouth where Katelyn has been playing in the first team ever since.
Katelyn started coaching at the age of 14 when she coached a girls’ side for two years. She then proceeded to do some volunteer coaching with AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust before joining the coaching team at Totton and Eling for the Mini Tigers sessions.
The club has recently been approved as a Hampshire FA Wildcats Centre and Katelyn will take on the role of Head Coach for our girls’ weekly training sessions. She is a great role model for our girls and we know she is a valuable member of Totton and Eling FC.
Katelyn is also the coach for our new U7’s girls’ team (Totton & Eling Tornados) which will start in the Hampshire Girls’ Youth Football League in September 2021.
Jacob May
Jacob started playing football at the age of 6 for an after school club. He then joined a local team, Winsor Utd where he played from 6-11 years old before moving to Romsey Town for a couple of years. Jacob then joined Totton and Eling Youth FC for three seasons and is now playing for DNSS Southampton U18s. During his football career, Jacob has played in many different positions but has more recently found his niche in midfield and defensive roles.
Jacob has been interested in coaching for many years which has led to him studying Level 3 Coaching and Sport at college. He has had experience in coaching in schools and clubs and was invited to return to Totton and Eling Youth FC as a coach for the Mini Tigers.
Eva May
Eva started playing football at the age of 6 for an after-school club. At the age of 7 she joined a local team, Pace Jaguars, who Eva continues to play for and is no in her 8th consecutive season with the team! During this time, Eva has played a variety of positions such as central attacking midfielder, striker, left centre midfield, left wing and is currently playing right wing.
Eva played in the Hampshire Cup finals in 2019 and has recently played in the Hampshire Cup semi-finals.
As our newest and youngest coach, Eva is a great ambassador for girls’ football and is a fantastic addition to our coaching team. She recently played a vital part of the coaching team when we held a recruitment session for girls to join our club!
Jordy Wort
Bio is on its way!
Emily Le Peuple
Bio is on its way!