Whole new ball game for Jerry Flannery at Arsenal

Rugby hero Jerry Flannery has revealed Arsenal players had never heard of him when he started coaching them.

The former Ireland international had many successes on the field but still had to prove himself when he joined the London soccer club last year.

Jerry, who is a strength and conditioning coach at the Arsenal academy, told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “They didn’t know who I was coming in there because they’re just not big into rugby.

“They obviously asked what I did and I said I played rugby. After that there was always a bit of slagging, especially when Ireland were playing England, so they’re a lot more aware of me now than they were before the start of the season.”

The 35-year-old said his achievements as a hooker did not give him more credibility as an effective coach.

He added: “I don’t think you need to have played at a very high level to be a good coach. I think coaching is very different to playing.

“When a skill comes to you naturally, it’s harder to break it down and articulate it to someone who doesn’t have that skill but is trying to acquire it.

“From my own point of view, you do have more of a profile when you’ve played professionally but you’ve got to back that because professional sport is quite ruthless.

“And if someone is not cutting the mustard they’ve got to be gone.

“You can’t rely on the fact, ‘Oh, I’ve played, so that gives me a bit of kudos when I’m working with players’ because most of the lads I work with at Arsenal don’t really know about rugby.

“I just came as an Irish guy and had to prove myself and I’m just trying to get better all the time at coaching.”

Jerry has just come onboard the Safefood campaign Bring Back Play, which encourages parents to ensure their children are active at least an hour a day.

The Limerick man, whose career was cut short by a calf injury, explained why this message is so close to his heart.

He said: “Sport has benefitted me over the course of my life.

“If people are looking after their bodies, they are going to have a much better quality of life over the course of their whole lives.

“So it’s important to get kids to move from a young age.”

The coach said he enjoys exercise and it’s something he uses to anchor his day.

He added: “When I’ve got exercise done, I feel good. I feel healthy in body and mind.

“Not everyone is going to play professional sport or competitive sport but you have to be active all the way through and have fun doing it.”

Article source: http://www.irb.com/jwc/news/newsid=2067275.html

Whole new ball game for Jerry Flannery at Arsenal