Meet Craig Bowers, the Bangor Football Club Youth Development Officer and Director of the Bangor FC Football Development Centre.

Craig started coaching youth football at the tender age of 17. Within a couple of years, he had qualified for the IFA preliminary coaching award under the guidance of Paul Kirk, Jake Gallagher and Walter Bleakly. After a spell coaching Comber Rec. Youth team, Craig was signed as a player by Ards FC in July 2000.

Craig played for Ards under Frankie Parks and Trevor Anderson but still maintained an interest in youth football.

Craig qualified for his UEFA 'B' coaching licence in June 2002. The following month, he went to America to coach at the Future Stars Soccer Camps in Orange County, California. There he coached boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 12 and in August 2002 he acquired the AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organisation) Advanced Coach badge.

In November 2002, he was appointed as the IFA Youth Development Officer at Ballymena United. He also signed as a player for Ballymena United in August 2003.

Craig was appointed as the IFA Youth Development Officer for Bangor Football Club in September 2003. He is the Director of the Bangor FC Football Development Centre where he aims to provide quality football opportunities for the young people in Northern Ireland and to enhance the future of the sport. The FDC ethos is Caring For Football.