Morgan Briggs

“I think one is just like a sense of fulfilment, working with young people, because they are the future but also I think a lot about legacy and bringing more women into the sport.”

⸺Who is Morgan Briggs?

Morgan Briggs by day is an AI Ethics Researcher at the The Alan Turing Institute for Data Science and AI; and by night coaches the under 10 girls at Bloomsbury Football.

⸺When did you first discover football?

I first discovered football when I was four. It was something that I stuck with up until now. I think my parents thought I would like the sport. I mean, at four, it's a little bit difficult to know. But I think that aspect of teamwork, collaboration, learning new skills and kind of getting to meet friends was really the main reason.

I played starting when I was four. And then I played in University back in the US. And now I play again. It was a really great experience.

⸺What inspired you to become a football coach?

I my career ended short, because of an injury. I medically retired, had a hip replacement and I separated from the sport for a while for probably six to seven years.

Last year, I decided that I should really go back to my fundamentals, my foundation and realise football was one of those things. So I contacted Bloomsbury took a head coach position, and I also started playing again. In one word, when I think of football, I think of energy. I think it's, it's one of the most kind of beautiful expressions of teamwork and collaboration.

And I don't feel like I've ever received that type of energy or felt that type of energy in any other activity, then working together on a team.

⸺Are there any individuals that inspired you to take up this pathway in football?

Yeah, I was thinking back to the people in my life who have been role models for me. And I thought back to my first one of my first coaches when I was seven, my name was coach Lindsay, and I just remember her energy, and she made us all feel like we were so capable, and really empowered us. And I remember I was playing three v three at the time.

She was our coach.

I wanted to be someone like her to younger girls. So I really chose to kind of get into coaching to kind of be that type of role model and show young girls that. They can, they can work together, and they can do great things on the pitch and off the pitch.

⸺How has coaching impacted your life? What has been your favourite moment when coaching at Bloomsbury FC so far?

My favourite moment while coaching is the shared energy and the positivity that the girls have, as I was saying before, I think they they want to be there for one but they also are willing to say when they've you know, they could improve but also say when when others are doing a really great job.

I remember very specifically one game when one of the players did something really great and every single one of my players was going up to her saying what a great job she did and that that really left an imprint.

I have a sense of fulfilment working with young people because they are the future, but also I think a lot about legacy and bringing more women into the sport.