The LMA today hosted its fourth Annual Management Conference, sponsored by Barclays. This was the LMA’s first major event at St George’s Park, The FA’s new National Football Centre, since the association’s relocation this summer.

The main purpose of St George’s Park is to be a learning and educational hub for current and aspiring football coaches and managers.  Not only will the LMA’s relocation impact on the way in which its team currently delivers services to members and who we deliver to, but we will also work in a more integrated manner with the other stakeholders with whom we will be sharing the venue. 

Today’s event for the LMA’s commercial partners and sponsors, brought together over 300 delegates, including LMA members. The conference, hosted by Ed Chamberlin, delivered a full programme of key-note addresses with the theme of Leadership, Insight and Inspiration.

With a focus on leadership, the programme brought some of the greatest leaders in business and football together to discuss the similarities of their respective roles, the challenges they face and how they approach them. This year speakers included Stoke City manager Tony Pulis as well as owner, Peter Coates, US Olympic multiple gold medallist, world record holder, TV pundit and sports performance expert Michael Johnson, former cabinet secretary Lord Gus O'Donnell, leadership expert, Steve Radcliffe, award-winning conductor, Charles Hazlewood and corporate wellness expert Dr Dorian Dugmore, all of whom shared their unique insights into leadership and elite performance.

Howard Wilkinson, Chairman of the LMA said;

“As Chairman of the LMA it is a honour to see the association host our Annual Conference at St George’s Park, having now made the transition into the new National Football Centre which no doubt will have a long and lasting impact on the English game. One of my major aims for the English National Football Centre was that it should be the Oxford and Cambridge of Coach Education. The end product will only be achieved if we continually strive to ensure we have the world’s best coach educators and staff working there”.

Richard Bevan, chief executive of the LMA said;

“It is a very proud moment for everyone connected with the LMA to host our first major event at St George’s Park, in what is a logical move for the LMA, given the centre’s focus on excellence in leadership, technical development and coaching. It is a truly stunning venue and today marks a massive step for the association. The LMA looks forward to making a positive contribution to the aims and aspirations of the National Football Centre which will impact on every level of the game in England from grassroots to the national teams. The culture, values and behaviours will no doubt characterise a new generation of managers, coaches and players.

“The LMA’s conference allows our commercial partners and sponsors to gain an understanding of the principles and practices of football management at the highest level. This year’s event enabled the LMA to show off the new facility to our corporate partners and demonstrate how they can interact with the venue moving forward. The key-note speakers gave an incredible insight into their roles, demonstrating that they are outstanding leaders.  It was fascinating for some of the talented names from football, sport and business to share a stage, deliver such a successful event and debate the issues at the heart of good leadership.”