Welcome back to Industry Insider by Behind Sport. Our latest guest is the Head of First Team Domestic Scouting at AFC Bournemouth!
Tell us about yourself, what is your current role and what roles have you done previously?
My name is Andy Howe and I have over a decade’s experience in the football industry. I’m currently Head of First Team Domestic Scouting at AFC Bournemouth, a role I have been in since 2016.
Prior to my current role I was a First Team Scout at AFC Bournemouth, Plymouth Argyle & Burnley Football Club. As well as spending a number of years within AFC Bournemouth’s Academy set up as a coach for the younger age groups.
What do you do in your current role?
My role consists of many different aspects of which include managing my Domestic team of seven scouts to covering games up and down the country from u18’s up to the Premier League. However, our primary goal as a team is to make sure we are finding the right players for the manager as well as the football club.
What does a normal week look like for you?
No two weeks are ever the same within football and I think everybody can relate to that. Even more so around the months building up to a transfer window.
To try and sum up a normal week it would involve weekly meetings with the Domestic Team and liaising with Technical Director. Live & video game coverage throughout the week, followed by analytical reports on all individuals in those games. The scouting & recruitment world is a 24/7 job, and it requires complete flexibility and adaptability. You have to use your initiative a lot!
How did you end up where you are right now? When did you know you wanted to work in sport?
Sport and football has been in my blood from the very beginning. I knew I wouldn’t make it as a professional footballer by my mid-teens, so I instantly enthralled myself into coaching and that’s where the journey began for me. My journey took a change of direction over ten years ago where I went from coaching on the grass to scouring the country for our next signing. Building on my experience and knowledge as a coach I was able to transfer these skills to the scouting and recruitment world.
What are you excited about in your industry at the moment?
I am excited for the possibility not just for football but sport in general to be back to normal. Sport hasn’t been the same without the fans and I can’t wait for everyone to be back in the stadiums.
What is your number one focus when it comes to your work?
My number one focus is to make sure that within my team we are covering every single player within our scouting remit. It’s vital that as a team we are all working as one and striving towards the same goal in finding the right players for the football club.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to someone wanting to work in the sports industry?
I will break it down into four key components that have benefited me.
- Work ethic.
- Honesty and loyalty.
- Be passionate about your job and your sport. You have to have that natural hunger and ambition to succeed in your chosen profession.
- The need to evolve and learn more.
You can follow Andy Howe on social media…
Anybody can connect with me via LinkedIn, Twitter @Andyhowe_ or Instagram @Andyhowe_
Thanks for reading our Industry Insider with Andy Howe! If you want to read more from the series, you can do so by clicking here.
