ENGLAND FOOTBALL coaches are turning to the military to raise their game and improve their pitchside leadership skills.

Former Leicester City player Steve Walsh, QPR and England international Les Ferdinand and Arsenal’s Steve Morrow, were among the FA managers to take part in a two-day briefing from frontline RAF aircrew.

Among them was a combat hardened C-130 pilot who pulled off a miracle landing when her aircraft hit an IED on a dirt strip runway in Afghanistan, and a crewman whose helmet saved his life when he was shot in the head during a medical evacuation. The group was given a training course in the Brize A400M
simulator before taking the helm and testing their flying skills.

A spokesman said: “The training allowed the RAF and FA to exchange ideas about making decisions under pressure, using the RAF A400M aircraft simulators. “Their professionalism in a high-pressured environment was impressive. “The coaches improved and adapted after a few sessions and only crashed a few times.”