Grass Roots Rugby Show signs up Coleman

Former Fulham, Real Sociedad and Coventry City manager Chris Coleman will make his debut at the 2011 Grass Roots Rugby Show.

The manager has been signed up to give a series of coaching master classes and seminars at the three-day event at the NEC, Birmingham, from June 3rd-5th.

As a player he made 478 appearances with Swansea, Crystal Palace, Blackburn Rovers and Fulham and was capped 32 times by Wales.

Coleman said: "Everyone in the professional game owes a great debt to the thousands of coaches who commit so much time and energy at grass roots level.

"This show offers the opportunity for those people to be afforded recognition and an opportunity to meet up with those in the professional game.

"I am really looking forward to exchanging ideas and meeting everyone - we all share a passion for football, irrespective of whether it is in the Premier League or on a local park's pitch.

"The Grass Roots Rugby Show has become established on the calendar in recent years and many other senior managers have told me what a great success it has become.

"Every player and manager in the professional game has originally come through from grass roots level - even David Beckham.

"I remember with fond affection my school days playing football in South Wales and the pride I felt when I joined my first professional club Swansea."

Event organiser Joanna Burns said: "We are very fortunate to have Chris joining us for the first time.

"Chris became the youngest Premier League manager when he took over at Fulham and has a reputation within the professional game as one of our most enthusiastic and talented coaches.

"With his television work, he is also an extremely able communicator which will be very important when it comes to his coaching clinics and seminar sessions with us."

The Grass Roots Rugby Show 2011 is the biggest football event of its kind and takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from the 3-5 June.

Tickets are now on sale at www.­grassro­ot­sfo­otball.­co.­uk