Where it began: Bukayo Saka with his first coach, Colin Nixon _(Image: Chase bank)_
ENGLAND and Arsenal footballer Bukayo Saka, reunited with his first grassroots coach, Colin Nixon, to celebrate the amazing impact coaches can have on individuals and communities.
Nixon, who identified a six-year-old Saka’s talent and gave him the opportunity to play at his neighbourhood club Greenford Celtic, was invited for an emotional reunion with the world-class winger.
The pair took a trip down memory lane (watch the video [**_here_**](https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwe.tl%2ft-9luu4gettG&c=E,1,wX1ifA4qOpclYz2-z5t0BS8cfUGKrwSKp09WLCAb4eFXG6em82nofu2YQjv-BkgZdzuJ1fuA1yK_AVFhVCDFStt4dCIXNURg6SKoCBdeHGHw&typo=1)).
It comes after Chase bank and the Home Nations football associations teamed up to create the Chase football coaching programme.
It provides fully-funded access to 2,900 introductory coaching qualifications and 85 coaching bursaries to support individuals where cost is a barrier.
Bukayo Saka, a Chase ambassador, said: “It was good to see Colin again. He was the one who gave me my first opportunity in grassroots football, and the first coach that helped me to develop my skills.
“Coaches like Colin are the role models that kids need. If you go on to play professionally or not, they give you guidance and skills that can last a lifetime.”
Nixon added: “Bukayo had a special talent from a young age, with a wonderful attitude, so I’m incredibly proud to see him go on and achieve so much with both his club and for his country.
"Coaching is very rewarding and gives you a wonderful chance to positively impact people’s lives.”
[**_https://www.chase.co.uk/gb/en/chase-football-coaching-programme/_**](https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.chase.co.uk%2fgb%2fen%2fchase-football-coaching-programme%2f&c=E,1,EiggzMWHDP1x82dUe9b1FbpfamOz-DwZNlZh8ltWdzBFkVTvuiuE0X0Y9XXusGpdiDWDiljaJ6yYWGon2SFUJ874t8xI7-1OfKaUbiLSwE2ccxZx4yQAvxg,&typo=1&ancr_add=1)
Chase is the consumer banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co.