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Former Swindon Town coach Ben Futcher reflects on England pathway
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Former Swindon Town assistant manager Ben Futcher has opened up about his transition from the Nigel Eady County Ground to his current role coaching England youth teams.
Former Swindon Town assistant manager Ben Futcher has reflected on his time at the Nigel Eady County Ground as he continues to play a significant role in the development of England's future football stars.
Futcher arrived in Wiltshire in 2018 to work alongside David Flitcroft, aiming to guide the club back to League One. Although the pair moved on to Mansfield Town before their tenure reached its natural conclusion, Futcher maintains fond memories of the experience and the challenges of managing a youthful squad.
Speaking on his time at Swindon, Futcher said: "A club the size of Swindon, you know it is going to be about trying to get back up at the first attempt. We knew that wasn’t going to be easy, with a very young squad, there was a lot of rebuilding to do and stopping the rot, but it was very exciting."
The coach highlighted the difficulties in balancing form, noting a clear disparity between home and away performances during that period. "It is a fantastic stadium, a fantastic pitch, but you sometimes felt that teams would come to us and raise their game. We had quite an athletic team that was dangerous in transition, which helped away, but at home we wanted to have more of the ball, and were a bit more open," he explained.
Following his departure from the game at club level after leaving Mansfield, Futcher shifted his focus towards coach education and the international setup. He has since worked extensively with the Football Association, taking charge of various age groups including the Under-20s and Under-19s, as well as holding an interim role with the Under-21 side.
His work at St. George’s Park now involves moulding the next generation of talent, including players from top-tier academies. Futcher described the international role as a balancing act between winning matches and the long-term development of players.
"It is very different from club football, as it is only in international windows, and you end up in a mixed role, where you are helping players enjoy the England experience and develop, but you also want to win games," he said. "It is about developing the lads, so that when they arrive with Lee in the Under-21s, or Thomas with the seniors, they are ready for that on and off the pitch."
With three vital qualification matches approaching in November for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, Futcher is focused on securing success. He views these tournaments as essential building blocks for the senior team's future, with the ultimate ambition of winning a major international trophy.
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