How former Arsenal academy star Alex Hennessy turned interest into a goal through the training centre

The path to the top level in women's soccer is highly competitive, and fraught with obstacles for young players who aspire to become champions in the WSL.

It's a fact that 19-year-old Alex Hennessy knows very well as he progressed through the youth ranks at Arsenal, and represented the Lions at various youth levels from under-15s to under-19s. In September 2021, aged just 16, he made his senior debut for the Gunners in a WSL match against Reading, replacing Steph Catley in the last 12 minutes of a 4–0 win.

A few months later, Hennessy joined Crystal Palace on loan for the remainder of the 2021/22 season, and that was followed by a permanent move to West Ham United at the end of the campaign. Six months later, she joined Charlton Athletic in the Women's Championship.

While it looks like Hennessy's career is taking off, the harsh realities of life in the women's game are starting to take a toll on young players. Despite the perceived glamor associated with professional football, the financial rewards, especially for young players, are small.

“From a young age, I had a lot of experience in the first team,” said Hennessy 90 min. “But the difficulty was more related to the cost of going to football, the cost and the like.

“As a young player, you weren't given a contract until you were 18, and when I was at Arsenal and the first team, I had to come in three, four or more times a week. If my mother, father or grandfather were not there, I had to find ways to train.”

It was then that the 16-year-old began to consider options outside of playing, with travel and financial burdens becoming difficult. However, instead of it being the end of his journey in football – it was just the beginning.

“I love football and everything about football, so coaching seemed to suit me,” continued Hennessy. “I always played football and went with high-level coaches, I have been in the program since I was young, so I always thought it was a potentially powerful job.

“In the beginning, I started training alongside playing football, but what I have built now with Alextra Academy, has grown rapidly and it was impossible for me to do both. [playing and coaching]. Building something takes a lot of time and effort, and so does playing professional football, especially if it's not close to home.

“To travel a lot and have a business would have been too difficult, so I chose to train in the end and I'm very happy that I did well, it inspires many children, and I give them places that I didn't do before.”

With the support of the FA and England Football Learning, Hennessy was able to start his coaching journey, with help and funding to complete his introductory course. He is now looking towards completing his UEFA C Licence, as he continues to build his school and bring sessions to boys and girls of all ages in Essex.

Hennessy added: “In the beginning, I only offered private sessions and individual training, as I was not very comfortable starting with large groups. Every time I train. [before the academy] I was always a helper or a cone collector. I wasn't really leading the sessions, so when I took it on myself, I started slowly and started with one in the park.

“People would stop by and ask for my information, and little by little I got a good reputation in the area. Many players came to me asking for training, and soon I didn't have enough hours to do private sessions, so it was. They were made up of groups of children aged 10 and up.

“Now, two years later, our youngest players are five and our oldest is 18. We also have a few adults coming to extra sessions, so it's a wide age range.”

Not only does Hennessy set a good example for those who coach every day, but the 19-year-old's journey shows young female footballers, who have been released from clubs, can continue to pursue a career in football through coaching.

“Having that path, or a second path of work, that you can do on the football side or otherwise, is very important. It's good to have something to fall back on,” Hennessy concluded.

“The coaching is very good, I think he knows the game and he has dealt with the school. He has worked with different coaches as a player and watched how they run the sessions, and the equipment they use.

“You learn little things, like how many balls or blocks you need, but also things like how to engage the players. I believe that experience [as a player] he helped me in my training journey.

“All the coaches I have, male or female, are all like a drip into my coaching style. I would encourage any new person, especially someone coming through the program, to dip their toes in and see if they like it.

England Football Learning delivers courses and qualifications for managers and directors at elite level, as well as those looking to start at grassroots level with Introduction to Coaching Football. In addition to these courses, England Football Learning provides ongoing support to coaches at all levels, with regional support coaches delivering continuous development sessions across the country to improve the skills of coaches from grassroots to senior levels.

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