Shiplake College News

In today's 'A Conversation With...' we chat to Graduate Sports Assistant, Teacher of Geography, AND Head of Football - Mr Eoin Canning. Having joined Shiplake in September, Mr Canning is very much involved with life at the College.

What is your role and how long have you been working at Shiplake?

I am very fortunate to be involved in various parts of school life. I am primarily a Graduate Sports Assistant, which has offered me the opportunity to take a leading role in games lessons through the age groups. I also teach two Year 8 geography classes and share a Year 12 tutor group. Just recently, I have also taken on the role of Head of Football. I have now been working at Shiplake for 5 months having started in September and can say it feels like I have been here a lot longer. 

What were you doing before working at Shiplake? 

Before working at Shiplake I was at Loughborough University studying geography and sport science. Where I was very fortunate, alongside my studies to be a part of the Loughborough University football and lifesaving teams. I also during the previous summer was able to get a fair bit of travelling in around Europe. 

Geography and Sports Science is an interesting combination at university, why did you choose to study that? 

From a very early age I had a passion for exploring the great outdoors and I combined that time spent with trying numerous sports on the weekends. This interest I had in the two subjects was further enhanced by my secondary school geography and PE teacher. They gave me great joy studying the two subjects and inspired me to become a teacher myself. Resultantly, as soon as I had completed my GCSEs, I looked for courses at university that did geography and sport science and thankfully, there were five universities at the time offering this course. As soon as I was able to apply for this course at Loughborough University, I did, and it has been a significant factor in why I am now looking at completing my teacher training in geography and physical education. 

How has your first term been at the College? 

It has been amazing getting to wake up every day seeing boats going up and down the Thames. I have enjoyed the endless amount of sport that is on offer every week and have enjoyed the challenge of combining that with teaching within a classroom. The support and friendliness of everyone at the school has really helped me to feel a part of Shiplake. 

You're the newly appointed Head of Football and 1st XI Coach; what are your goals for the upcoming football season? 

It is great to see fixtures have started to fully get underway after the disappointment of our first block of fixtures being frozen off. This coming season throughout the College, I am hoping that we can start to build a collective identity of what football at Shiplake is all about; fast-paced, intense, and trying to always be on the front foot. This will hopefully put us in a position to be very competitive throughout the age groups and will hopefully help develop students to have an all-round knowledge of the game. However, most importantly, I am hoping to see as many boys and girls as possible playing football for the school with smiles on their faces and putting in 100% every time they step on the football pitch.  

Regarding the 1st XI team this season, the main aim is to create a team that has great cohesion and impresses supporters and opposition both on and off the pitch. We are filled with a number of very determined and talented set of individuals, which I am hoping this year can lead to us coming in the top 2 in our Super 8 League. I am also hoping that by the end of the year, there is a recognised Shiplake way of playing that has come into fruition with each player being able to define what it means to play for the Shiplake 1st XI football team.  

What is a day in the life like for Mr Canning? 

A day always starts off with some sort of run or circuit training and in the summer, I am very much looking forward to using the swimming pool. I have a bowl of muesli and fruit every day, which helps give me the energy I need for the day which then consists of getting all the sporting equipment for the day ready before getting to teach some Year 8 Geography. A lunch time football analysis or strength and conditioning session is always a joy before ending the school day with a fixture or a games lesson. I then very much look forward to another run or bit of football training before helping out in Burr wherever I can. 

What do you do in your free time? 

As you probably may already tell I am a sport fanatic so there are many hours, probably too many, watching all the major sporting events that have taken place over the past week. Then typically on a Saturday afternoon, I am usually somewhere around Buckinghamshire playing football for Henley Town FC. On the odd weekend, I enjoy getting up to the Lake District or Snowdonia for a weekend of camping in the mountains before then having a lovely evening full of pub games.  

What does the future hold for Mr Canning?  

Next year I am very thankful that I will be completing my PCGE at Shiplake College training to become a qualified Geography and PE teacher. This will give me a chance to develop and expand my skillset as a teacher and provides an opportunity for me to continue learning about my two passions. I am also hoping that in the coming years the football programme at Shiplake College can come on leaps and bounds providing a platform for students to develop holistically.