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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want to destroy this man?

185 replies

thesungoesdownthestarscomeup · 17/05/2019 08:49

I've name changed for this as potentially outting;

Please help - I need some advice. And it’s a long one, sorry!

Long story short is DS football coach and I don’t get on, all stems back to presentation evening last year when I was sat opposite him and could hear him slagging me off to a host of people (at the time he was just another parent, not a coach), to save a massive scene at the time and DH flattening him in front of children etc we left and I sent him a message explaining I had heard him and of course if he had an issue he could of spoken to me face to face like an adult, queue him denying it, and running back to the then coach saying I had started a war with him for no reason etc, huge frosty atmosphere which resulted in him turning quite a few parents against me and making out I was deluded with pregnancy hormones at the time. What he didn’t know was that it was the current coaches wife who actually told me what he was saying as I could only decipher parts from across the table with loud music on!

Anyhow, fast forward almost a whole year and this delight of a bloke has now muscled in on the team and seems to be running the team and coaching, subs to be paid to his wife etc.

Since the day he’s become more involved with the team he’s set out to make my life hell, reflecting on DS.

Some examples are; was asked to pay £5 for a tournament as a matter of urgency I was out in the car at the time so offered to drop payment off if he told me his door number (I knew the street!) - he ignored my message on the group WhatsApp and then did an arsey status about me not paying 🤨

Was told to pay £10 per month subs as a bank transfer to his wife’s current account 🤨 money was to be paid irrespective of whether child could attend or not, it was paid to keep their space and ensure they have the same as others for presentation night/Christmas, have always paid this monthly despite my DS not being able to play/train with them since January as he’s had a pneumo-empyema which he was in hospital for a month with, now long road to recovery. One month, I think it was March, I was late paying subs due to everything going on as well as a newborn baby, he took it upon himself to remove DS from team and me from WhatsApp/Facebook groups as I hadn’t paid 👀 he couldn’t even take the time to drop me a quick message asking what the situ was or prompting payment?! It was humiliating as once I had discovered what he had done, I messaged him, repaid subs and then was added back into the groups 🙈 like some naughty school girl!

Based on what’s been going on obviously DS hasn’t played/trained much but I’ve had to put his welfare first. Anyhow, last weekend there was a tournament it’s the first time DS has been back, he played (was subbed mostly!) and had a medal at the end, the coach then messaged me again on the group WhatsApp stating parents have noticed DS only turned up as there was a medal 🤨🤨🤨🤨 so, I explained I thought I was paying subs for him to have the same as others but he was welcome to have the medal back if he wished! Lo and behold for another message to come through again on the group WhatsApp directed at me saying irrespective of reason if your child doesn’t train they don’t play. Now, I back this to a certain degree, but it’s hardly like my son has had a cold! I thought he would be encouraging of all children, and appreciate they are only children who ultimately are there to enjoy and wouldn’t single any child out for disability basically making it impossible for him to ever inter-grate back into the team as he may not train one week if his chest is particularly bad/hosp appt etc.

Final straw came this week when we were asked to order t shirts for tour, again on the WhatsApp group, I ordered what I needed and was about to make payment by bank transfer to his wife when it said my banking app was updating, so I wrote a message asking could she wait up to four hours for payment or if not could I drop cash off to her. Again my message was ignored, come Monday morning a message appears stating all those who ordered and PAID for their t shirts your order has been placed and for anyone else tough luck! To save DS missing out I messaged the older teams secretary to ask if I could order with her, she said yes, so I messaged coaches wife and said I was going to place my order with older team sec as she hadn’t placed her teams order yet. Queue a private text from her husband telling me I obviously don’t want DS to be part of the team as I couldn’t even order in the same manner as everyone else 🤨🤨🤨🤨

This constant nit picking has gone on too long, and I told him so, which resulted in him quitting with immediate effect unless I removed DS from the team after I messaged him asking why he had made everything as difficult as possible and questioned whether it was purposeful for him to push DS out via me in the hope he wouldn’t return to the team, of course I was rail roaded into removing DS by other parents making passive aggressive remarks that they don’t want to lose coach so would rather lose DS as he hasnt trained/played for months 🤨🤨🤨

Yesterday was particularly upsetting as DS broke his heart coming home from school because his friends were going training but he couldn’t go, anyway, I took him to a different team and he seemed to enjoy, and in all it seems a better team in terms of management and training.

But, I really don’t agree with this coaches conduct and I want to know how best to address it. Is it worth going to the chairman of the club? Or the committee? Or do I just leave it lay?

I’m so upset but equally annoyed this has happened!

Oh and by the way if you think this post is about your husband then it probably is, and my opinion is he's a cunt!

OP posts:
geekone · 17/05/2019 10:30

Honestly this is likely only one side of a story. Football boys clubs have these issues all the time I have witnessed it with my own eyes/ears. I doubt you were blameless and the only person who has suffered because 2 grown adults couldn’t move on was a child, your DS.
In your position at the award ceremony I would have ignored, asked the coaches wife to not to tell me anymore and just got in enjoying my night. Moral high ground and all these people only flourish when you let them. I certainly wouldn’t passively aggressively have messaged him when I got home. If it’s not important enough to do face to face, it’s not important.
As I said the only person you have app hurt by not acting like adults is your DS.

DiscontinuedModelHusband · 17/05/2019 10:34

i'm a youth football coach, so have some idea how this might go.

you can and should report him to your local FA (to which the club is affiliated).

whether this will actually result in anything meaningful to you is debatable.

if it was a well-organised club, such a report would likely be acted on effectively (though even then it's likely he'd just get a bollocking).

however, given they're asking for money to be paid to personal accounts, and neither coach is qualified, i'm guessing it's not particularly well-organised.

in which case, any FA communication/action will likely come to a grinding halt once it reaches the club.

honestly, as frustrating as it will feel, you are probably better to just draw a line under things, and chalk it up to experience.

your DS sounds like he is in a better place now anyway. take solace from that.

as PPs have mentioned - he'll be found out eventually - his sort always are.

Moorfields · 17/05/2019 10:34

Oh yes I missed that bit, sorry. You might have the opportunity to mention it in passing to another parent.

But definitely report him as suggested by IHateUncleJamie

Brefugee · 17/05/2019 10:34

in future make sure you have witnesses and screenshots.
But in cases like this there is only one course of action and that is to move your DS, which you've done.

Purplegecko · 17/05/2019 10:35

What a nasty man. He will get his just desserts one day, OP. Gosh I'm a little concerned that he works with children, he sounds very spiteful and vindictive!

thesungoesdownthestarscomeup · 17/05/2019 10:36

I honestly feel like reporting him for all, but I'm fearful that club team will then fold, meaning his child will then be clubless so to speak, and consequently may mean they join DS new team - now I know I can't stop that, but I certainly don't want to be aiding it!

OP posts:
Illberidingshotgun · 17/05/2019 10:39

But is the club even affiliated to the FA?

Brefugee · 17/05/2019 10:39

you can just message him via WhatsApp and ask when the accounts will be drawn up for the year so he can calculate if you get any subs back or something?

thesungoesdownthestarscomeup · 17/05/2019 10:40

How would I know if they are FA regulated? I know the main 1st team are but not sure about the kids team. X

OP posts:
thesungoesdownthestarscomeup · 17/05/2019 10:41

Can I do that brefugee? X

OP posts:
ewenice · 17/05/2019 10:44

I also thought the payments into a private account is weird. It should go into a club account which is audited every year. You are best out of it.

Hearhere · 17/05/2019 10:44

Everyone knows why it's not a good idea to wrestle with a pig

thesungoesdownthestarscomeup · 17/05/2019 10:45

There's been several questions asked as to why the team didn't have a bank account and it's always been batted off with one excuse or another x

OP posts:
Illberidingshotgun · 17/05/2019 10:47

It will say so on their website, on any official documents etc.

UnicornBrexit · 17/05/2019 10:48

How would I know if they are FA regulated?

ALL league team have to be FA affiliated

thesungoesdownthestarscomeup · 17/05/2019 10:48

I've never had an official document from them and his team doesn't have a website - is it just a case of looking on the adults first team website?

OP posts:
thesungoesdownthestarscomeup · 17/05/2019 10:49

Unicorn

Ah, issue. Only this year as in September do they enter the league! Massive loophole hear obvs Angry

OP posts:
FooFightersFan · 17/05/2019 11:00

Op I totally feel for you. I had similar issues with one of my DS's footy coaches a few years back.
He wasn't qualified as a coach. No FA coaching skills badges. He took a dislike to my DS and treated him unfairly for r example he verbally criticised my DS during a match by shouting negative comments at my DS in response to DS scoring a goal. WTF?
Said coach was always 'reminding' parents about being punctual to training and matches but constantly arrived late himself.
Then he muscled in on my DS's school team and started coaching there and attending school matches as the 'coach'. Not even sure if he'd been DBS checked.
Anyhow, DS left as he was so fed up with being subbed and criticised.
I confronted coach about his tardiness and was told to stop being so negative as I should be grateful coach was giving up his precious time. Coach had son in squad so was giving up as much time as all parents bar the admin involved (which I had previously offered my help with).
Some people are just arseholes. And there are a lot in kids football, sadly.

thesungoesdownthestarscomeup · 17/05/2019 11:05

Sounds similar foo.

When the shit hit the fan and I told him DS wouldn't be returning he replied saying I should be grateful DS has been able to train up to now with the team as if he hadn't given up as time...HmmConfused

OP posts:
thesungoesdownthestarscomeup · 17/05/2019 11:05

Sorry that should read his time

OP posts:
FooFightersFan · 17/05/2019 11:09

It's so sad that grown men need to use this position of 'coach' to prove how virtuous and powerful they are. Like I said, they're arseholes.
Hope your DS settles into his new team and has fun.
We changed teams and haven't looked back. New coach is great. Normal sized ego and treats the boys well. Happy days x

mcmooberry · 17/05/2019 11:12

I definitely don't blame you for leaving, and this kind of thing is why I am grateful my son doesn't play football but it's not clear why he took against you in the first place.
Also, you can't blame him for not wanting you round at his house handing money in!!

howwudufeel · 17/05/2019 11:16

The only person on the planet I could cheerfully murder is someone who once coached my dc. There are lots of great volunteers out there but in all honesty kids sport attracts a special type of arsehole.

longwayoff · 17/05/2019 11:44

He's not qualified? That's shocking. I'm surprised a football club is allowing this, as others have said, there's a code of conduct e tc. Working with children is specialised and power tripping bullies shouldn't be doing it.

BrokenWing · 17/05/2019 12:16

He's not qualified? That's shocking.

The worst coaches my ds had were qualified had all their badges and they were arseholes and didn't know how to run a piss up in brewery never mind a training session/football team. Best coach he had had was an ex-player from the 90's, had been coaching kids/amateur youth teams for years but didn't have time to do his badges, he could coach as long as there was a qualified coach (who did nothing!) with him.

All coaches (qualified or not) need to be DBS/PVG checked.

The qualification means nothing and doesn't stop bullies or just incompetent men with no football or coaching experience damaging children self-esteem, especially when they enter leagues or when they are young teenagers and going through enough with puberty and pressure at school.

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