Croydon youth football coach is 'exceptional'

Arthur Green voluntarily coaches the school team at St James the Great School in Thornton Heath, as well as running a club for pupils on a Saturday morning.

The father-of-three's coaching achievements include reaching three Borough finals in three years, winning the Croydon North League six times in eight years and leading the team to be crowned Crystal Palace Football Club Schools champion four times in five seasons.

Mr Green, who works as credit manager for a company in Mitcham, has continued coaching despite the death of his wife Pauline in 2003, and losing his Thornton Heath home in a fire in December 2010.

Since the fire he has been living in Isleworth, but has continued to make the 28-mile round trip every Friday and Saturday after his players begged him to remain as their coach.

On the nomination form, fellow coach Cosimo Corbo described Mr Green's skills and dedication to coaching as "exceptional."

The 37-year-old wrote: "Arthur has given so much of his free time to ensure the children can play football regularly and also organises matches against other schools so other children, who cannot represent the school at a high level, can also play.

"They [the players] don't know Arthur's circumstances, but everyone connected to Arthur does and can only appreciate all the work he puts in."

Mr Green said the nomination came as a surprise, but was "quite humbling and very nice."

He added: "It is a wonderful feeling of achievement to see the players develop, to see them grow.

"When you have a group of kids who start aged five you teach the basics and then when they reach the age of 10 and you see them chip a ball over a defender.

"Just watching them improve is excellent and to think I have had involvement in their development is nice."

Every week we feature some of Croydon's heroes on this page and we want your nominations.

All nominees will be shortlisted and invited to an awards ceremony.

Click here to nominate your Croydon Champions