Canadian Olympic women’s football coach John Herdman talks to Gavin Havery about his black and white roots

AS a boy, Newcastle United fan John Herdman dreamed of leading a team out onto the hallowed turf of St James’ Park.

And while he may not have pulled on a black and white jersey to take part in a top flight Premiership clash, his dream came true when the Canadian women’s Olympic football team jogged onto the hallowed turf on July 31 and warmed up wearing black and white shirts.

It was a happy return for the 37-yearold as the squad qualified for the quarter- finals with a 2-2 draw. The Canadians came from two goals down to earn the all-important draw and Herdman admitted the crowd at St James' Park had given his side a helping hand, andmade his return to Tyneside a day to remember.

“It was fantastic. I had to make sure walking out on to St James’ Park didn’t distract me, but proved a positive motivation.

We tried to make it our home patch for the day. I don’t think there are going to be too many opportunities like this come around in my lifetime.”

Despite the excitement of playing in the famous stadium, more glory was waiting for the Canadians as the tournament progressed and his red-shirted team put out Team GB 2-0 in the quarter-finals.

After losing in a tense 4-3 showdown with the USA in the semi-finals, John’s women snatched victory from France in the dying seconds of the play-off to earn themselves bronze medals.

“To come back to London and Britain to experience an Olympics in my home country and be part of it was so surreal.” he says. “It has been an amazing experience.”

It was a last-gasp goal from midfielder Diana Matheson which earned Canada a 1-0 win at the City of Coventry Stadium.

“We finished third in the world, a massive achievement, but now the job is to stay there and go higher. The aim is to get closer to USA. We want to get to the World Cup final against USA in three years time and try to win it. We want to set the bar high, aim high and make sure 2015 is even more memorable than this.

“France were the better side, they hit the bar and post, had a shot cleared off the line. But the girls wouldn’t give the medal away and that says so much about them. We took the one chance we had and by doing so, we’ve gone up to another level. It is up to us to stay there."

Consett -born John is a former pupil of St Bede’s, in Lanchester , and went on to study sports science and teaching at Leeds Trinity and All Saints, before becoming a teacher at St Patrick’s, in Consett, his former school. He also played football for Consett Juniors and Prudhoe Town, before competing for his college side.

When he started teaching, he also launched a Brazilian soccer skills school, spending his daytime hours in school and evenings on the football pitch. That effectively kicked off his coaching career. He also began working with the youth sides at Sunderland AFC, while lecturing in sports science at Northumbria University, in Newcastle.

JOHN was initially employed as a regional technical director before being given the chance to coach and develop the female game.

“When the women’s team job came up, I really enjoyed it. It was a totally different experience. It fitted my philosophy of how I want to lead players and work with them, so when the chance came up to coach at an international level in New Zealand, I took it with both hands,” he says.

John led the under-20 squad to the World Championship in 2006 and the later renamed under-20 World Cup in 2010. He also guided the senior squad to the FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2007, and 2011, as well as the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing.

Married to Claire, with two children, Jay, seven and two-year-old Lilly, he now lives in Vancouver, after he was headhunted by Canada last year, following his success with the New Zealand women’s team.

ONE difference between coaching men and women is that tactically women’s games have started to catch up with the men’s game, says John.

“It will never reach the same speed or physicality of the men’s game – the ball won’t move as fast – but tactically, it is very much the same game. The major difference working with women is the emotional aspect and the mental side of things.”

John describes the women’ game as the “last bastion of amateur football”.

“There are some really exciting parts of the women’s game. You are not dealing with egos as they are amateurs and are there for the love of it,” he says.

Canada's record goalscorer Christine Sinclair has paid tribute to the impact John has had on the Canadian national squad during the past 12 months.

“I've been involved in many highs and lows down the years, but nothing compares to this,” she says. “John and his staff have done so much and have got us believing we can beat any team, any day.”