In this month’s blog, we hear from Tamara, an ambassador in the North East, about her incredible and inspiring journey through football. From a young fan in the stands to coaching and working at Newcastle United Academy, Tamara’s story is one of passion, determination, and resilience.

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I was four years old when my parents bought me my first Newcastle United ticket. At that age, I didn’t watch much of the game. I was more interested in playing on my Nintendo DS in the stands. But I loved going with my dad. For a few years, I wasn’t too bothered about football itself. Then one day, my DS broke and I had no choice but to actually watch the match.

That moment changed everything.

By the time I was eight, I was hooked. Football became my whole world. I remember the highs and lows of following Newcastle: getting relegated from the Premier League in the 2015-16 season, the heartbreak that came with it, and then the incredible Championship season that followed. We had to win, and Brighton had to lose or draw. My dad was on the phone, tracking the score. I still remember the feeling in the stadium - the tension, the noise, the lump in my chest. When the results came in, the entire stadium erupted.

That was football. That was home.

Playing football as a girl

When I started secondary school, I wanted to play but my school was rugby-focused and didn’t offer football for girls. So I joined Forest Hall Falcons, a local boys’ team. Most of the boys were from my school, and I loved being part of the team.

Just after COVID, the chairman of the club asked if I wanted to get involved in coaching at the club's football nursery. I had just finished Year 9 and was going into Year 10. I said yes.

So I started playing and coaching outside of school. I didn’t coach my own age group, so I rarely saw the kids I worked with during the games. But they’d always come up to me after, full of stories. That made me feel part of something bigger.

The Girls’ Network

My mentoring took place during COVID, so it all happened over FaceTime - and honestly, I didn’t enjoy being on camera at first. But Zoe, my mentor, really helped bring me out of my shell and built up my confidence.

Zoe worked in fundraising at Cats Protection and loved the outdoors and walking. Our sessions would always start with the first 10 minutes just for me to talk, to get things off my chest from the week. It made such a difference to have that time and space. It became something I looked forward to, a moment in the week that was just for me.

In our final session, we got to meet in person. Zoe knew a physiotherapist, and we were able to ask her lots of questions, which was so helpful as I was exploring career options.

Mentoring really supports young people in ways that are hard to describe - it gave me not only confidence, but clarity about what I wanted to do. After mentoring, I became an Ambassador and started speaking at events. One of them was a women and social housing event, where I had to give a speech.

I was nervous. I had my cue cards, but it felt robotic. So I put them down, trusted myself, and just spoke from the heart - and it worked. That moment really showed me how far I’d come.

A shift in my playing career

Toward the end of Year 11, during the under-16s season in 2022, I was still playing but my coach had an issue with a girl playing in a boys’ team. Even though I was paying subs, I was being benched. Eventually, I realised: I’m done here. I stopped playing and moved into coaching full-time.

Becoming a coach and leading my own team

I coached at Forest Hall’s nursery for three years before being scouted by a coach from another team, Blakelaw. I moved there and began coaching their under-8s and under-9s. After two years, I transitioned to coaching the under-16 girls’ team.

I was 18 years old coaching girls who were only two or three years younger than me. I was nervous. Will they listen to me? I wondered. But they did. That team became my favourite. We had real team spirit, and even though our age gap was small, they respected me. I learned how much that matters in coaching - not just being listened to, but being trusted.

Being the only girl in the room

From 2022 to 2024, I studied at Access Sport Newcastle for a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sports Coaching and Science. In my first year, I was the only female student. That wasn’t easy. But I graduated with a Triple Distinction Star, the highest grade possible. In my second year, another girl joined the course, and it felt good to know I wasn’t alone anymore.

I was offered a voluntary role at the college, even though it was financially tough, I took it anyway. It felt like an investment in something bigger. And it was - I now have a paid role as a Performance Analyst at the same college.

University, rejection, and choosing a different path

When I applied to university, I wanted to study physiotherapy. I didn’t get in.

They offered me a place on the Sport and Exercise Science course instead. I was upset at first. I wondered if I should even accept the offer. But after a few weeks, I realised it wasn’t a bad path - in fact, it opened even more doors. I could still apply for an MA in physiotherapy later. That was a turning point for me.

Now I’m in my second year at Northumbria University, balancing work and study. I finish work at 3 p.m. and attend uni from 4 to 6 p.m. It’s not easy, but I’m managing my time and making it work.

Finding my way at Newcastle United Academy

At the end of my first year, I remember walking into a lecture and seeing a presentation on performance analysis. That morning, a list of internship opportunities had been emailed to us. One was with Newcastle United Academy, but it was for second and third-year students. I wasn’t sure whether to apply.

But I asked myself, “What’s the worst they can say?” So I applied.

Now, I’m at the Newcastle Academy. From a little girl with a DS in the stands to coaching, analysing, and working in professional football, I’ve come a long way.

And I’m only getting started.

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We have so much admiration for Tamara - her work ethic, dedication, and the way she passionately speaks about her journey are truly inspiring. She demonstrates the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and finding your own path, and her story is a powerful reminder of the impact sport and mentoring can have on young people.