From Pitchside to Youthside: Joe Vines takes on Bromley’s Future Stars

When discussing the evolution of a football coach's career, it’s essential to highlight the pivotal moments that define their journey. For Joe Vines, a name synonymous with passion and dedication across Veo's alumni, the recent transition from being the assistant coach at Lewes FC to taking on a key role in youth football at Bromley represents a significant chapter in his professional story.

Having honed his skills and tactics alongside the senior squad at Lewes FC, Vines now focuses on nurturing the next generation of talent. His next challenge could be the upcoming season. As the plot thickens, Bromley under 15’s is a terrain Vines has never encountered. He admits Bromley could be a challenge but finds joy in a brand new perspective of the game. 

Joe Vines previously told us, “You can never replicate the feeling of playing the game; coaching is the next best thing.”

His move to Bromley underscores a commitment to fostering young players’ development, a role that blends his vast experience with a deep understanding of the game’s foundational principles. 

You’ve recently made the switch to youth football; how has that been?

I've been doing men's football since I stopped playing myself, so the last seven years, and now I’m going into the academy set up at Bromley and doing really small kids [on the side]. I'm coaching my son’s under eight. It’s a completely different problem; they are very innocent and very naive, and they haven't gone through the mill of playing for years and years and years. So you know, in terms of bad habits and things like that that you're trying to coach out of them, there is very little, but sometimes it's absolute madness. It is crazy, but I'm getting a different perspective on the game, and it's nice. It's refreshing.

How has summer at Bromley FC been so far? 

I'm doing their under 15’s. It's so far a really good standard. And I'm trying to remember everybody's name. I'm trying to make sure that the focus is on the person. It’s a really interesting time for them in their development as men, as people, not just footballers, because there's a lot of change in their lives. It's a fundamental moment for them. They've got GCSEs [General Certificate of Secondary Education] next year. They've got bodily changes and development. You know, they're [dating]… a lot is going on. So you're not just teaching them how to play football; you're trying to help them navigate a particularly sticky patch. I remember what I was like at 14/15. It's a good opportunity for me to try and influence them as best I can.

Did you always see yourself coaching? 

I didn't ever when I was playing. I didn't see myself going into coaching or management in particular. I think intrinsically, it's a desire to help people and make people better. So whether you call it a coach, you're going to do that in your daily life. How do you see potential in people? How do you nurture that? How do you encourage it? How do you give good advice at the right time? Ultimately, you want to understand the humans and what they are trying to achieve. And the beauty of coaching, the beauty of football in particular, is when you have success. You have success with 15 or 16 other people.

So, essentially, Veo Cam has played an assistant coach in this journey? 

When I'm looking at the generation I'm working with at the moment, they absorb information in 20 and 30-second blocks. Their whole life Is a TikTok or a reel, so if you're explaining the methodology behind coaching, it is to talk and explain. “This is what I want,” and then you demonstrate, you show, and you let them do. But they also want to see as much as possible, and they like repetition … “And what about from that angle?” … “But what if you do” … “and where should you be?”

So, being able to reflect in a way as a coach and help the players see clearly, has been a game changer. It revolutionized my coaching methods a long time ago, but Veo, particularly with the analysis functionality that it has now, really took it to the next level. When you consider the affordability of it versus some of the top-end solutions, it's unbelievable that grassroots players and clubs have access to this kind of tech.

What do you think are the benefits for the modern-day footballer?

Yes, it's the ability to look back over your own game, not to be too harsh on your performances, but you know, if you've been tasked to improve on switching play as a centre midfielder, how are you looking at the angles that you're creating to receive the ball? First touch on the back foot, and then your ability to drive the ball in the opposite direction of where the play has come. How many examples of that have you then done in your last game? You can go through with a fine tooth comb. You know, 10 examples. Clip it, and it's done. 

Would you say this has changed your approach to coaching? 

Yeah, there are different aspects. I mean, I think it helps to have a reference point, because if you're just saying to people, well, you didn't do that, you've now got proof, you're like, “Okay, let's play it back.”

It's not always about being negative. It's about enforcing the positive. I'm very much a positive coach. I want to be positive in my language. I want to be positive in the examples that I use- I'll make a big song and dance out of a good example.

What are your main goals this season and what are you looking out for?

I'd like to build really strong relationships with the players, a level of trust where they can believe what I say to be true. And I'd like, particularly for my under fifteens, I want to see as many of them as possible training with and playing with the older age groups because it's that measuring stick to see if they can progress.

Any last words?

I​​t's been terrific to work with Veo and to have access to the level of analysis that used to only be seen on Monday Night Football. I think the difference it's made to my philosophy.

It's developed my philosophy to include video as the norm. Yeah, I think it's something that I'll carry with me until the rest of my days, or until the next shiny, bright, new toy turns up. As I said before, it's revolutionized the way that I coach, and my approach to coaching for the better.

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