Development
Building players, pathways, and opportunities from grassroots football through to the first team.
OUR VALUES
At Harlow Town F.C., we are committed to creating an environment that promotes diversity, equality, and inclusion across all areas of the club. We aim to ensure that everyone—regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, background, age, or ability—feels welcome, respected, and valued within our football community.
As a community-focused club, we actively encourage participation from people of different cultures, genders, and backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the local community in Harlow. We believe football should be accessible to everyone, and we work to remove barriers that may prevent individuals from taking part in the sport.
Our programmes and teams promote equal opportunities for players, coaches, volunteers, and supporters. We support gender inclusion by encouraging both boys and girls, as well as men and women, to participate in football activities and development opportunities. We also celebrate racial and cultural diversity, ensuring that discrimination, racism, or exclusion of any kind is not tolerated at the club.
By promoting respect, teamwork, and understanding, Harlow Town F.C. strives to create a safe, positive, and inclusive environment where everyone can enjoy football, develop their skills, and feel part of a diverse and supportive community.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Mark Lowman is the Head of Youth Development at Harlow Town Football Club, playing a key leadership role in overseeing and developing the Club’s youth football programme, ensuring young players of all backgrounds and abilities have the opportunity to participate, learn, improve and progress within a safe, positive and professionally managed environment.
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Working closely with Club management, coaches and volunteers, Mark is responsible for maintaining high standards across all youth teams, promoting the Club’s values and establishing a clear development pathway from grassroots football through to the older age groups and senior football.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
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Youth Football Development: Oversee the Club’s youth teams and development programmes, ensuring a consistent approach to coaching, player development and progression across all age groups.
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Player Pathways: Establish opportunities for young players to progress through the Club’s youth structure, including EJA football, Under-18s and ultimately senior football, while supporting players of all abilities to reach their potential.
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Coaching Standards: Support and guide youth coaches, promoting high-quality coaching, continuous professional development and a consistent football philosophy.
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Player Welfare & Safeguarding: Work alongside the Club’s safeguarding officers to ensure the safety, wellbeing and welfare of every young player remains a priority.
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Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: Promote equal opportunities and encourage participation regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, cultural background, age or ability. Help remove barriers to participation and ensure discrimination, racism, bullying and exclusion are not tolerated.
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Recruitment & Retention: Support the recruitment and retention of youth players, coaches and volunteers, helping to strengthen and grow the Club’s youth football programme.
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Communication & Community Engagement: Act as a key point of contact between youth coaches, parents and Club management, building positive relationships and encouraging participation from Harlow’s diverse local community.
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Club Standards: Ensure all youth teams operate in accordance with the Club’s policies, codes of conduct, FA regulations and expected standards of behaviour, promoting respect, discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship.
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Long-Term Development: Work with Club management to identify opportunities to expand and improve the youth football programme, creating a sustainable foundation for future generations.
OUR VISION
Our vision is to build a strong, inclusive and successful youth development programme that provides opportunities for every young player to enjoy football, develop their abilities and achieve their potential.
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As Head of Youth Development, Mark Lowman plays a central role in delivering this vision, creating a positive football environment that encourages personal growth, teamwork, discipline and respect, while establishing genuine opportunities for progression through the Club’s youth structure and into senior football.
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Our ambition is not simply to develop better footballers, but to help shape confident, respectful and well-rounded young people who are proud to represent Harlow Town Football Club and contribute positively to their community.
