Charlie Balcombe

In January 2024, I made the decision to pursue my passion for working in football. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to be part of an incredible community in Jersey, helping to grow and develop opportunities for women and girls in the sport. Over the past 18 months, I’ve been involved in a number of rewarding initiatives aimed at supporting girls who typically have fewer opportunities in football, and this work has been both meaningful and inspiring. I have now moved to the UK to pursue similar opportunities on the mainland, whilst exploring football refereeing at a higher level than what  was available in Jersey.

Before transitioning into sport, I spent just over six years working as an Accountant, gaining valuable experience in fund accounting and collaborating within a large team to support a demanding client base. I also worked at Reckon Limited, where I was able to contribute to more personalised accounting services. These roles strengthened my analytical skills, professionalism, and ability to work effectively with others—strengths I now bring to my work in football.

In October 2021, I began a BSc (Honours) Degree in Sports, Fitness and Coaching, marking the start of my journey toward a career I truly care about. Sport has always been a central part of my life, and I’ve been involved in both team and individual disciplines for as long as I can remember. I regularly take part in football, golf, refereeing, and coaching I previously coach the Jersey Wanderers Women’s team for 3 seasons, having completed my Level 1 introduction to coaching qualification.

I have a diverse background across both finance and football development. I began my career as a Fund Accountant at Aztec Financial Services, where I developed strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and experience managing complex financial processes to strict deadlines. I later worked as an Accountant at Reckon Limited, further strengthening my accuracy, organisation, and ability to work effectively within a team.

Alongside my finance career, I transitioned into sport development, taking on the role of Football Development Officer (Women and Girls) for the Jersey FA. In this position, I delivered large-scale community programmes, helped introduce hundreds of young girls to football, and managed a coaching team of around ten staff. This role developed my leadership, communication, event planning and coaching skills, as well as my ability to create inclusive and engaging football environments and events.

Across all roles, I have demonstrated adaptability, strong organisation, people management, and a passion for helping others develop. My experience is supported by my ongoing BA (Hons) Sports, Fitness and Coaching, FA Level One Coaching qualification, full DBS, and my involvement in football as a Level 4 referee.

I currently study part-time with the open university to gain a BA honours in Sports, Fitness and Coaching. I will graduate my part-time degree in 2028, having started in 2022.