As week’s go, FC Halifax Town winger Matty Kosylo has had an eventful one to say the least, rounding it off with the visit of Maidenhead United in the latest round of Vanarama National League fixtures at the weekend.
After watching Town’s exciting victory over AFC Fylde last time out, Kosylo was back at his other job working as a tutor for Coach Core. The scheme, set up by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, sets out to ‘inspire young people to build a career in sports coaching’.
However, this was not just an ordinary day for Kosylo, HRH Prince Harry was paying a visit to the Manchester site on Monday to see how well the scheme was progressing.
After speaking with the Prince, and featuring on City TV’s video from the day (1 minute 15 seconds in on Manchester City’s Facebook page), Kosylo told us that it was a great day to be a part of.
“They created an apprenticeship programme called Coach Core which started in London in 2012, since then it has branched out to Essex, Nottingham, Manchester and now Birmingham.
“He visited an event that we were doing at Manchester City’s training ground, they are one of the organisations involved who have taken apprentices on.
“I was nervous to be fair, I stuttered a few times, especially with the City TV interview afterwards. It was a bit surreal to be totally honest, seeing people like that in the flesh.
“At the end of the day you have got to realise, yes, they are royalty, but they are a person like you as well and I had to remind the apprentices of that. Obviously, you treat him with your upmost respect but they were all brilliant with him, they conducted themselves fantastically.
“I mentioned I play part time because he was asking if I would be working here in year two. I said that depends if Halifax get promoted and we go full time, he gave it a chuckle but that was about it”.
So, by the sounds of it, we won’t be seeing Prince Harry down at the MBi Shay Stadium anytime soon, although Kosylo will be there and in contention to come straight back into the starting line-up, following his one game suspension.
Promoted from the National League South at the end of last season, Maidenhead have displayed a similar form to the Shaymen in non-league’s top tier, only losing twice so far and recording three wins and three draws, leaving them seventh in the table.
Understandably, after missing the game against Fylde, Kosylo is itching to get back onto the pitch, and says he feels ready for the occasion.
“We trained on Tuesday and we will train again on Thursday, so I’m fit and ready to be called upon.
“I’m looking forward to it… I will be approaching it as any other game. Obviously just preparing the right way, waiting to see if you have been picked and have the mentality that you are ready to perform and put 110% effort in”.
Being such a mainstay in Billy Heath’s starting line-up, it was strange to see Kosylo out of the side, even if it was just for the one game. However, the man himself says the team is the priority, and has outlined that there is still very much strength in depth for the Shaymen.
“It was tough (to miss out) but I was tired by the end of watching it because it was a very end-to-end game, I didn’t stop shouting. At the end of the day, the team is the priority. We are pushing up the table, I feel like we are settling in well now so long may it continue.
“Dion is on loan from Fleetwood in League 1, Denton has scored in every league he has played in, Josh MacDonald has got loads of potential and then the likes of Morgan whose calibre speaks for itself. We have got people who can score and create goals so we have got lots of talent”.
There will be live match updates available from Saturday’s clash on the club’s official Twitter page (@FCHTOnline) along with live commentary available on Shaymen Live.
Read more posts by FC Halifax Town
;
