Ed — Coach Bio

Ed brings a lifelong passion for the game, having grown up in England as an ardent supporter of Colchester United—a club that has taught him the true meaning of loyalty and perseverance.

His teams are built on hard work, determination, and accountability. Every player has a role, understands their responsibilities, and is coached to execute them with confidence. While technical ability is important, Ed believes that hustle, heart, and commitment to the team will always outweigh individual accolades.

One of the most rewarding aspects of coaching for Ed is watching players grow throughout the season. The victories build confidence, the setbacks build resilience, and both provide lessons that extend far beyond the pitch. He encourages his players to recognize that many of the qualities required to succeed in football—discipline, teamwork, communication, perseverance, and leadership—are the very same qualities that lead to success in life.

Football (soccer) is an emotional game, and Ed believes that the strongest teams are those that genuinely care about one another. A positive culture, mutual trust, and an unbreakable team bond are the foundation of lasting success, both on and off the field.

Education & Training
Ed earned his Bachelors with Honors degree at Bangor University in Wales before heading off to teach in Shanghai between 2003-05. He moved to Massachusetts in 2005 and earned his Masters Degree in Special Education at Simmons College in 2010 while teaching at Landmark School. He taught for over 20 years at Landmark, Nashoba Valley Technical High School, and Windham Woods School. 

Coaching Experience
Ed has coached in Massachusetts Youth Soccer since 2007 (but took a break after the 2017 season to raise his two sons), including:

Landmark Boys Varsity Head Coach (2007–2014)

Nashoba Valley Technical High School Boys Varsity Head Coach (2015–2017)

Ed led Nashoba to their first post-season playoffs in over 20 years in 2017 finishing fourth in the vocational schools division. His team also made it to the final 16 of high schools in the state. 

Ed won the Massachusetts Coaches Pillar award in 2017 and was also named Nashoba’s coach of the year that same year.

Playing Experience
Ed’s playing journey was cut short due to a career-ending foot injury but he played varsity at Tendring High School in Essex, England from freshman year through senior year in the 1990’s. Later in life, he played for Medford Atomics in the over 40’s Over the Hill League.

A Fun “Claim to Fame”
One of his first memories is playing with his Star Wars figures in the terraces of Colchester United while watching his team beat Bury 1-0 in 1984. The town where Carl Ashley hails from!