When Nicholas Stothard, Varsity team head coach at TuksFootball says he considers football as the most beautiful game he means it.

"The reality is that the underdog always sort of has a chance. Fairy tales are written every day on football fields across the world. It is the game that keeps you on your toes at all times.

"When you involved in football, you are continually learning. As a coach, I will never know everything. I will keep on learning until the day I die. That is the beauty of it all," Stothard explained.

Fairytale endings are the last thing on the new coach's mind. For him, it is about first things first. He wants to win over the confidence of his players and technical team.

"From my playing days at Tuks, I learned that every player matters. It does not matter whether you play or you are on the bench. I speak from personal experience. In 2012, the year, Tuks won the USSA Football tournament I did not play a single game. I don’t consider it as time wasted. What I have observed from the bench stood me to good stead as a coach.

"I don't see my role as being the 'boss'. It is to show the players that I got the tools to help them be at their best. Ultimately, I can't win alone. If I don't have the players buy-in and respect, we will fall at the first hurdle."

Tuks will be playing in the SAB Regional League and Stothard's goal is to see if he can't get the team to be good enough to move up to the third league.

"It is the league just below the one AmaTuks is playing. As I understand it, it has been quite a few years since Tuks has played in the higher league. If we do achieve the promotion, it will set us up for a good Varsity Football tournament campaign. But I don't want us to get ahead of ourselves. Our first objective will be the very first game we play in. The focus should always be on now."

Being only 29 is relatively young to be a head coach, but Stothard seems to have an old head on his shoulders.

"Often coaches state that they got a philosophy as to how they intend to play. I believe there can be no talk of any possible game plan before you know your players. You got to develop your playing philosophy on the skills of the players you have.

"Ultimately, I like to keep it tight at the back. Be defensively disciplined, but at the same time when we have the ball, I would like us to express ourselves. Put the opposition defensively under pressure. I have already made the decision that it is going to be an all-student team. There is no point in carrying players who will not help me when it comes to playing the Varsity Tournament."

Stothard was one of the goalkeepers when Tuks won the Varsity Football title in 2013 and 2014 and the USSA Football tournament in 2015.

He describes himself as a diehard Newcastle United fan.

"I did not really have a choice. My grandfather was born in Newcastle, and I have been to the UK to watch a few of their games. The first game was when Newcastle played away in London. We lost 4-0 that day. I was devastated.

"Then, a 16-year old told me a life lesson. He said being a Newcastle United fan is never only about winning. It is the camaraderie that matters. Being there for the team whether they win or lose.

"Still, at times it is tough to remain faithful. It is the hope that kills you. Hoping that one day it is going to get better. Still, I will never change teams. You know how 'karma' works. The day you do is when Newcastle United is going to win something, and you will look like a bit of 'muppet' if you try and reverse teams again."