Early & Adolescent Years
Stefan’s start to life was not the easiest, struggling with his own behavioural issues during his academic life since primary school.
Stefan’s secondary school experience consisted of countless detentions, significant amount of time spent in isolation instead of lessons, and numerous exclusions from school. Stefan’s start to life was not the easiest, struggling with his own behavioural issues during his academic life since primary school.
Stefan’s secondary school experience consisted of countless detentions, significant amount of time spent in isolation instead of lessons, and numerous exclusions from school. Representing the school in Football, Tennis and other extracurricular activities, such as, Performing Arts and MCing were the positive aspects and the activities that kept the school from permanently excluding him. The several detentions and isolation periods hindered Stefan’s learning and access to learning, which had a detrimental impact on his final grades, only obtaining 4 out of a 10 GCSE’s at (A*- C / 9 – 4).
Although his school allowed him to start his A levels, Stefan became heavily engrossed with MCing and gangs during his adolescent years, which seemed more appealing than education at the time. At 17, Stefan was involved in a gang related incident, which consequently resulted in a 3-year custodial sentence in January 2008 for Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH).
Rehabilitation Years
After serving 18 months in a Young Offenders Institute, at 19, Stefan decided to turn his life around by pursuing a career in Football Coaching, despite the potential barriers he might have faced whilst working with members of the public due to his previous conviction. Within 3 months of release, Stefan returned to full-time education, enrolling on the NVQ Level 2 Football Coaching course at City of Wolverhampton College. After completing the course in June 2010, the Course Lecturer, Joe Jackson, gave Stefan a volunteering opportunity to become a Coach & Manager for his Football Academy, New Park Village Football Development (NPVFD). This opportunity was facilitated by one of Stefan’s peers, Kyle Williams, an opportunity that changed his life.
While Coaching at NPVFD, Stefan also worked at Everything Everywhere (EE) between 2010 – 2012 while struggling to get other opportunities in sport or education due to his DBS. In 2012, Stefan applied for a Head Sports Tutor role at Edu8. Despite not landing the role due to his lack of experience and DBS, his honesty during the interview process and his life experience led to the company creating an Assistant Sports Tutor role for him. In this role, Stefan delivered Multi-Sport courses and Functional Skills (English & Maths) in an alternative provision for 13-18-year olds who were not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Left/top: Kyle Williams and Stefan at NPV 2011/12 Awards Evening
Right/bottom: NPV Under 12’s 2012/13 Season
Sporting Life
Stefan spent 4 years at NPVFD, where he gained vasts amount of experience, personal development and various qualifications, such as, FA Level 1 & 2, Sports Leadership Award and a BTEC Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring. During his managerial career, Stefan and Kyle led their team from Under 10’s to Under 13’s to numerous league and cups, winning manager of the year award twice, and notably going undefeated in all competitions in the 2012/13 season (winning 27 out of 30 matches, winning 2 league titles and 3 cups). Stefan was also a 1-2-1 Goalkeeping Coach for his own team and throughout the academy.
Above: JA Connections Programme, Negril, Jamaica, 2014
Between 2013 – 2014, Stefan was part of a voluntary organisation (JA Connections), where he organised and facilitated fundraising events, raising £25,000 to carry out voluntary coaching for young people in deprived areas in Negril, Jamaica. The two weeks of coaching took place between July – August 2014, which was a once in a lifetime and eye-opening opportunity for Stefan and all those involved.
Returning to Education
Stefan realised that his previous conviction was limiting his opportunities in a career working with young people, so he decided to go back to education to improve his chances in the future. In 2012, Stefan left Educ8 to go back to City of Wolverhampton College for the third time within three years of being realised from jail and enrolled on the Access to Higher Education course in order to go to University. Stefan attended the course part-time over 2 years, while working part-time to support himself, and while maintaining his role at NPVFD. He completed the Access course in June 2014.
In September 2014, at 24, Stefan left Wolverhampton and moved to South London to study Sports Psychology at Roehampton University. During his 2nd and 3rd years of study, Stefan worked for Sport Roehampton (Roehampton University Sports Department) as the University Football Activator. Stefan was in charge of all recreational football at the University for students and staff, providing sports qualifications, voluntary roles for students and improving women’s football participation. In this role, he collaborated with the London FA, British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS), and Crystal Palace FC. Stefan delivered 1-2-1 Goalkeeping sessions for the Men’s and Women’s University teams, although he had to stop playing for the University’s 1st team due to a Hernia injury. During his 3rd year, Stefan also carried out voluntary mentoring and educational support for Tottenham Hotspurs Foundation’s FdSc Applied Football Coaching & Performance students.
Left/top: Kyle Williams and Stefan at NPV 2011/12 Awards Evening
Right/bottom: NPV Under 12’s 2012/13 Season
Stefan completed the Sports Psychology Degree in May 2017, despite recovering from a hernia surgery during the 2 months when final assignments, exams and dissertation were due for submission. This had an impact on his overall grade and a detrimental effect on his physical and mental health. Stefan’s dissertation topic was ‘The associations between perceived autonomy-supportive behaviours, controlling coaching behaviours and motivation: A comparison of team and individual sports’.
In March 2020, in reaction to the pandemic, Stefan became the Founder of AleX Higgins Academy in order to support individual mental health, physical health and academic needs while in lockdown.
In October 2023, AleX Higgins Academy was awarded Health and Wellbeing Champion Excellence Award at Charles Gordon Trust Golden Lion Awards 2023.