Sergeant major joins forces with sports development team -
15/11/06
A man, who is nearing the end of a distinguished Army career,
is tackling a new challenge on secondment to the Vale of Glamorgan
Council.
A warrant officer with the Welsh Guards, Sergeant Major Andrew
("Micky") Spillane has joined the Council's sports development team
for one year and is, initially, focusing on rugby, a sport in which
he has more than 20 years' invaluable experience both as player and
coach.
Working with people of most ages and abilities, Micky will
mainly deliver Dragon Sports activities for boys and girls aged
seven to 11 and, encouraging sustainability, focus on coach
education to ultimately benefit Vale schools and clubs.
Micky has already liaised with Ysgol Maes Dyfan in Barry, fellow
Rugby Development Officer Matt Silva and Disability Sports Wales
Development Officer Linda Ruston to improve opportunities in rugby
for people with disabilities.
During his 24-year Army career, which started with a visit to
the Cardiff Recruitment Office as a 15 year old, physical and
practical admission tests and a first posting to Germany (before
the fall of the Berlin Wall), Micky has managed to find a balanced
life in relation to serving abroad and being a husband and father
of two. Postings have included Bosnia, Northern Ireland, America,
Canada, Kenya, Belize and New Zealand.
The Armed Forces place great emphasis on teamwork and physical
activity and encourage sports participation, and Micky has been a
player and coach with the Welsh Guards rugby team. Under his
guidance, they achieved outstanding success and recently reached
the Army Cup semi-finals. For nearly a decade, he has been scrum
half for his local club at Llantwit Major and is an active
community member coaching the club under 15s and under 16s and the
Cardiff Blues under 16s.
A Welsh Rugby Union and Dragon Sport tutor/assessor, Micky is
looking to share his passion for sport and belief in the merits of
a military career. He believes the skills needed for both are
interlinked, and explains: “The personal attributes needed to
become a great team player mirror those skills necessary to be a
fine soldier. They both require tremendous spirit, courage,
honesty, integrity and a great deal of physical fitness.”
Micky was welcomed by Council Leader Cllr Jeffrey James and
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure Cllr Michael
Harvey, and Cllr James said: “We are more than pleased to have our
first Welsh Guardsman on board. We look forward to seeing sporting
opportunities being promoted and becoming more successful, and our
team working with partners such as the Cardiff Blues to make the
Vale an exciting prospect for the future.”
Sports, Arts and Play Development Manager Karen Davies said:
“Micky will utilize his excellent training skills and review the
coach education programme.
"His initial tasks will include liaising with clubs and
organisations to establish individual needs, and linking with coach
education providers, including national governing bodies and the
Sports Council's Coaching Wales team to organise Sportscoach UK
courses. He will also work closely with other external agencies
such as first aid providers and the sports marketing network.”
For more information on sports development, telephone Micky
Spillane on (01446) 704603 (email Aspillane@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk)
or Karen Davies on (01446) 704614.
Visit www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk for
more on sports development opportunities.