Stratford Town's infrastructure has everything it should have, says assistant manager Gavin Hurren
GAVIN Hurren knows just how important having the right infrastructure can be to achieving success both on and off the field after completing a masters in sports directorship.
And having recently joined Stratford Town as assistant manager, the former Bromsgrove Sporting boss said the set-up at the Bards was one of the key factors in him coming to the Arden Garages Stadium, declaring: “The club’s infrastructure has everything it should have.”
Hurren had been studying the VSI Executive Education-run sports directorship course at the University of Salford and last week he handed in his dissertation, the culmination of two years’ of hard work.
During that time the former Kidderminster Harriers midfielder has been learning what makes sporting organisations tick and the importance of having the right infrastructure to succeed.
Although the course was run in conjunction with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), top-level cyclists and rugby players were among those enrolled.
This is because the role of a sporting director, Hurren told the Herald, is important in all sports and he believes studying the masters degree has aided his development.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my last two years,” he said. “For my development and networking, it has been brilliant and this is something I’ve always wanted to do.
“I’ve learnt a lot about how sporting organisations operate and how to build an infrastructure to be successful both on and off the field.
“It was a good course to be on and I’m glad I was accepted on to it. It’s furthered my education and while at the minute I want to be a manager or coach, in ten to 15 years’ time I could take that next step into a sporting director role.”
He added: “I do think the sporting director role is becoming more common. You have an owner or CEO of a sports club who has his or her own values and what they want a club to stand for, and it’s for the sporting director to carry that out and to build the infrastructure.
“It’s common in European football and over here in England, sporting directors are common in rugby.
“The course opened my eyes up to how these roles are the way forward not just in football, but for any sporting organisation.”
It’s clear that Hurren has learnt a lot in terms of how to build an infrastructure, so what does he make of the set-up at Stratford Town?
“For me, it’s one of the reasons I came to the club,” he said.
“I’ve been a part of football for a long time and after speaking with Jed (McCrory – chairman) it was clear there was a good infrastructure here. The club is constantly improving and driving to be better.
“You can only get to a certain level of success on the field without having the infrastructure off it. What Stratford Town has done over the last three years is build off the field. It has everything an infrastructure should have. With everything that’s happening here, it gives you the best opportunity to deliver on the field.”
He added: “I’m really excited to be here, the recruitment has gone well, the boys are in great shape and I am really looking forward to working with Dean (Holdsworth – manager). Hopefully we will have a positive season.”
The Bards host West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
