Club Announces Addition of Assistant Coach Justin Brooks-Ward

First State FC are adding Justin Brooks-Ward as assistant coach for the upcoming 2021 NPSL Season, team General Manager Dave Holloway announced Monday.

“Justin’s enthusiasm for teaching and developing players is a huge addition to our coaching staff,” Holloway said. “His technical soccer knowledge, combined with his ability to foster leadership and personal development, will be invaluable as we continue to build this club.”

Brooks-Ward comes to First State with a decade of coaching experience, ranging from the school/club level to the academy and senior level. Brooks-Ward holds his USSF B license, the Scottish FA Children’s License, the U.S.C. Premier Diploma, and is a candidate for the UEFA B license. He currently serves as an Assistant Coach with the Philadelphia Union Academy’s U17 team.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be coming on board with First State FC,” Brooks-Ward said. “I first met [Coach] Chibsah in 2013 on a coaching course, and his knowledge, professionalism, and eye for detail was clear all those years ago. I am honored he asked me to be his assistant.  After meeting with both Chibsah and [Team GM] Dave, it was clear the First State FC project was something special.”

A Delaware native, Brooks-Ward began his playing (and coaching) career at River Soccer Club in Frankford, Delaware. He would go on to become captain of the men’s soccer team at Manhattanville College, where he received his B.A. in Psychology. He also holds a Master’s of Education degree from University of Delaware, and is currently working towards his Post-Graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from Drexel University.

First State FC welcomes Justin and his family into the First State family, as we look forward to an exciting inaugural season.

First State FC kicks off its inaugural season vs. Atlantic City FC on Saturday, May 8th, at Abessinio Stadium in Wilmington.

Visit tickets.firststatefc.com for more information.