Following the recent recruitment process, the Army FA is delighted to announce that WO1 (SMI) Keith Emmerson, RAPTC, has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Army U23s Football team.

Keith joined the Army in 2003 as a Royal Military Policeman until 2010, when he transferred into the Royal Army Physical Training Corps.

A stalwart of service football, Keith is no stranger to the Army FA, having represented the Army Senior Representative Team for 20 years and amassing over 150 appearances as a player, captain, and later in his career, Player/Coach. Alongside winning numerous Inter-Service Championships, Keith has also represented the UK Armed Forces representative side and has won the Kentish Cup.

Outside of service football, Keith has had an extensive non-league football career. At the point of his retirement last year, Keith had accumulated over 1000 non-league football appearances at Step 2–5, spanning 24 years.

Since retiring from his playing career, Keith has continued his coaching journey and fully immersed himself in coaching on a regular basis. He is a UEFA B Licence holder and holds a BSc (Hons) in Strength and Conditioning. He currently works as a coach at Yeovil Town FC.

Keith explained, “This is a great honour for me. I am excited about this new role and look forward to working with the talented young players in the Army U23s Football team. I have gained valuable experience in guiding and mentoring young players. My goal is to create a nurturing and high-performance environment for the Army U23s team, where they can develop their skills and reach their full potential. Together, we will strive for success and continue the proud tradition of excellence in Army football."

Lt Col Tony Frank, Trustee of Men’s Representative Football, said, “It is a real pleasure to welcome Keith back into the fold as a coach. He has a wealth of experience that will benefit not only the U23s but all our sides as we strive to further enrich service football. This is a genuinely exciting appointment.”