15:30 in the Sunshine State, 20:30 in oldBlighty. David Gough’s already been plenty patient as my laptop decides to revolt and update ten minutes before our chat. He knows all too well about problems with tech, he’s just had to switch to his assistant coach’s account. “Patchy, just like our weather,” he says.
Gough is the Director of Coach Education at Jacksonville Football Club in Florida, reflects on a footballing journey that’s taken him from a small town in South Wales to the heights of international coaching. The man who created aresource hub for footballers - footballers in the very same boots he once stood - exudes the confidence and wisdom of someone who’s faced the highs and lows of the game.
He shows me his bronze medal from his time with England at the 2015 Women’s World Cup. His office is filled with trinkets from his time coaching around the world, and he’s more than happy to carry the laptop around as I drone on with my continuous questions on ‘what’s that one for?’.
Gough is one of thousands of coaches who started out with hopes of being the one taught rather than the one teaching. “I grew up in a small town in South Wales where you played football and rugby. That's what it was in the 90s. Wanting to be a professional footballer. Wanting to play for Wales and then one day realising it was never going to happen,” he says with a needle prick of sorrow in his voice. Sharp kiss of the teeth before he continues.
Dreams of representing Wales were soon tempered by reality. As he puts it, he was an "average player," once humorously described as running with his handbrake on. That realisation, however, didn’t diminish his love for the game. Instead, it set him on a new path. Inspired by a rugby coach’s tracksuit, he began to see coaching as a way to remain connected to the sport he loved. “That moment started a journey that’s lasted 24 years,” he reflects.
By the time he reached Cardiff Metropolitan University, Gough was already deeply engaged in coaching. Whilst balancing studies, he found himself surrounded by professionals whose expertise he sought to emulate. The early exposure to seasoned mentors instilled in him the importance of preparation
For coaches like David, they can find themselves out of work for months on endbefore picking up a role, many of which may not be stable, and the 24/7 round the clock planning to get the best out of players canquickly turn into packed bags with no chance for a goodbye. Studies in 2023 concluded that the average tenure of a manager in Europe’s highest leagues was only between 35-69 matches. Gough believes it’s often “easier” to put blame on managers for mistakes rather than players at an administrative level.
“It's one that people avoid and the truth is, you just roll with the punches, right?” He expected affirmation from me at that moment, which I didn’t realise as the silence got louder. I quickly nod my head.
“You learn sacrifice. And it does cost a lot. The game will take a lot from you. It'll give you a lot, but it will also take.” Time away from loved ones and the mental toll of navigating setbacks are challenges he knows well. At this point he thinks he’s remembered me from a press conference in Azerbaijan, to which I painfully sink the notion. Flattered regardless, as he laughs when I tell him I don’t do well in heat.
A turning point in Gough’s career came in 2015, when he moved to the United States. The decision was both professional and personal. Having experienced life in the States during his early 20s, he saw the potential to raise his family while continuing to work at a high level. “It was tough to leave the UK and its international setups, but for my family, it was the right move,” he says. Florida offered a balance that had been elusive in the UK, allowing him to integrate family life with his coaching commitments.
One of Gough’s greatest passions is nurturing young talent. His recent experience coaching at the Under-17 World Cup exemplifies this commitment. For him, it’s more than winning medals; it’s about preparing players for the pressures of international football. “We’re preparing players to represent their country under pressure,” he explains.
Looking ahead, Gough’s ambitions remain as bold as ever. Coaching Manchester United are dreams he hopes to realise. For now, though, he is focused on making an impact where he is, whether by developing players in Jacksonville or supporting emerging talent globally. “It’s about helping football grow,” he concludes, his passion for the sport as vibrant as ever. From a young coach learning the ropes in non-league football to an influential figure shaping the future of the game, Goughembodies the transformative power of football: a sport that’s always evolving.