Mark Murison can be forgiven for being a little more than excited as he prepares to face a new challenge when the new football season starts because after a year showing his prowess at the Bridge Meadow Stadium as a coach he is elevated to assistant manager on the departure of Tim Hicks.
 
At 35 years of age Mark is well qualified for the role because he has recently become an ‘A’ grade coach after a testing year – and after recent news of his success he is awaiting the confirmatory certificate that should take pride of place on a wall at home in Hook.
 

Arrived in the Premier County from Kent – where he was already a manager

 
He arrived in Pembrokeshire just over two years from the Kent area because his family had holidayed here and they wanted the quieter way of life it offered.
“It was a big step for my wife Sonia, plus daughters Isabelle and Olivia, to take but we are delighted at the way things are working out.
 
“I e-mailed the club with my details of management at Bridon Ropes, who played in the lower tiers of semi-pro football and did well with no budget; my qualifications, playing and coaching experiences, and was delighted to be interviewed and given a role in the academy set-up under Steve Batty.
 
“At that stage I was still working in London and so didn’t have the chance to be as involved as I would like but still helped the under 16s and the first team when I could – and as soon as I had settled in here it was great to become really involved and welcomed by everyone from David Hughes, who was brilliant, Wayne Jones, the committee, every player and coach within the club.
 

Wide-ranging semi-pro playing career

 
Mark’s own footballing career was played out as a semi-professional in Kent after he initially set out with Gravesend and Northfleet (which is now known as Ebbsfleet) and later played for Dartford, Chatham Town, Sittingbourne, Lordswood and Whitstable.
 
“I was a striker and used my 6 feet 2 inches to good effect in the air and was relatively quick for a big feller – and I could find the back of the net.
 

Highly qualified in the coaching stakes

 
“I gained my coaches’ ‘B’ licence before I came west and went through levels one and two, EEFA ‘B’, Levels 1, 2 and 3 youth and  youth advanced courses, with added specific modules which included developing defenders, midfielders and forwards..
 
“Then it was on to my ‘A’ licence with the Football Association of Wales, with financial backing from the club, which was an intensive course at Dragon Park, Newport and demanded 14 full days’ attendance, followed by lots of assessment sessions monitored at the club.
 
“My first assessor was David Adams and when he took over the running of the FAW he was replaced by Alan Bickerstaff, who both were extremely helpful – and all I’m waiting for now is the certificate from Carl Darlington, who is the FAW’s Head of Coach Education!”
 
As well as his involvement with The Bluebirds, Mark is also kept busy on community projects with Pembrokeshire County Council and his footballing business called ‘Little Legs Football’ which, as the name suggests, provides coaching courses for keen, very young players who want to take their first steps into acquiring basic football skills in a fun environment.
 

Loves coaching nippers with ‘Little Legs’ programme

 
As the web site suggests,
'Little Legs Football’ is a pre-school football programme. Each programme is tailored to four different age groups and is linked into the early years’ foundation and adds to our core belief that children can ‘learn through football’. By creating a fun, pressure free environment the children will have a positive experience of sport which they will carry on throughout their lives.'
 
Chat to Mark Murison for just a short while and his love of football at all levels is evident and with his wide range of qualifications and experience in the game he is sure to be involved at the Bridge Meadow Stadium for a number of years to come!