What connects a scout at Brentford FC, performance analysts at Peterborough United and Tranmere Rovers, a presenter at FC Barcelona, and a photographer working at Wimbledon’s Centre Court? The – perhaps surprising – answer is a small village football club in the far west of Cornwall.
Mousehole AFC currently compete in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South. They’ve made remarkable progress in recent years, climbing three divisions in seven seasons. But it’s not just on the pitch where this ambitious club is making waves. Alongside developing footballing talent, Mousehole is also nurturing the next generation of professionals across the wider football industry.
Take Kieran Stephens, for example — a former pupil at Redruth School who approached Mousehole while still a student, offering his services as a football analyst. Manager Jake Ash took him up on the offer, and Stephens quickly proved himself invaluable. He continued working remotely while at university and eventually secured a role at Ipswich Town. Since graduating, he’s completed an internship at Everton and is now the Lead Analyst at Tranmere Rovers.
His current role includes filming and analysing matches and training sessions, producing tactical and set-piece reports for players and coaching staff, and delivering live matchday feedback to inform real-time tactical decisions.
Kieran credits Mousehole for his professional grounding:
“Mousehole and Jake really gave me the building blocks to understand the role of an analyst in football. Working with Mousehole has massively shaped the way I work and how I approach analysis. I still use many of the techniques I learnt there to this day, and they’ve helped me establish myself in the professional leagues.”
A forward-thinking and welcoming club with a truly professional set-up.
It’s a similar story for Scott Neave, now Lead Academy Analyst at Peterborough United. He leads the club’s analysis for age groups from U9s to U21s, focusing particularly on the U18 and U21 squads. His duties include analysing training and matches, delivering pre-match briefings and tactical plans, and supporting player development through detailed performance data.
He, too, looks back fondly at his time in West Cornwall:
“Being at Mousehole massively helped me practice key skills and gain hands-on experience with a professional coaching staff who really believed in what I could offer. I was incredibly lucky to continue my development at such a forward-thinking and welcoming club with a truly professional set-up.”
“I remember my time at Mousehole as some of the best years of my life
Mousehole’s influence doesn’t stop at tactical analysis. Gareth O’Neill, currently part of the physio team at Aston Villa, spent several seasons with Mousehole as head of Strength and Conditioning. Further afield, in early 2024, FC Barcelona launched a new English-language video platform to expand its global reach. One of the faces fronting that project is presenter and journalist Pablo Wools-Blanco. Originally from Bristol, Pablo studied journalism at Falmouth University and spent his final two years filming matchday content at Mousehole. His easy-going nature and professional delivery quickly made him a favourite at the club and a respected figure in Cornish football media.
He became a regular on the Cornish Soccer podcast, a BBC Cornwall matchday reporter and commentator, and even hosted the BBC Cornwall sports show on several occasions. Speaking from his new home in Spain, Pablo reflects warmly on his time at Mousehole:
“I remember my time at Mousehole as some of the best years of my life. I made lifelong friends and found a second family and community that I still visit when I can. Professionally, I can’t overstate how helpful it was — the hands-on experience was exactly what I needed to build a strong portfolio and gain invaluable experience, all while working with some amazing people.”
Another recent alumnus to move up the football pyramid is Robert Brandt. Originally from Germany, he joined Mousehole as a scout for the 2024–25 season. He’s since taken on a new role as Academy Recruitment Coordinator at Brentford, overseeing recruitment from U9s to the B team.
For Robert, working in non-league football was an eye-opener:
“Decision-making in non-league is completely different. With no contracts or transfer windows, everything moves quickly. You get less time to make decisions and protect your squad, but more flexibility to correct mistakes. In the pro game, it’s the other way around. There’s also more personal accountability — players you recommend might actually get signed, which isn’t always the case at bigger clubs.”
Opportunities at Mousehole extend beyond football-specific roles, too. At the time of writing, Benj Gilbert — a recent graduate of Falmouth University’s editorial photography degree — is installing a camera on the roof of Centre Court at Wimbledon. Benj has built an impressive sports photography portfolio, including work with the England cricket team and several professional football clubs.
Last season, he spent time at Mousehole, capturing everything from matchday action to behind-the-scenes moments. His ability to capture celebration, reflection, and frustration added a professional edge to the club’s content output. His time in Cornwall gave him the chance to sharpen his skills in a live sports environment.
Kevin Bishop, who leads Mousehole’s media team, believes the club provides a unique springboard for young creatives and professionals:
“What we do here mirrors what people will encounter much further up the line in the wider world of football. We let people get stuck in from day one — they’re often thrown in at the deep end and given access to all areas of the club. They get to experiment, make mistakes, and learn. As a former journalism lecturer, I know how valuable that is for building skills and confidence.”
They’ve made us better as a football team — and we’ve helped them become better too,
Manager Jake Ash agrees. For him, the environment at Mousehole is central to everything:
“It’s just a great environment, isn’t it? People who work with us are given the opportunity to develop, and that’s so important. We’re really proud that so many people who’ve worked within the football department have used us to build their skills. In doing so, they’ve made us better as a football team — and we’ve helped them become better too, judging by the amazing roles they’ve gone on to. It’s something to be massively proud of.”
Although this crop of alumni has now moved on to the higher leagues, a new generation is waiting in the wings behind them. There are always opportunities at Mousehole if you want to develop your football career. Why not come along and have a look and see how we do things?
