Simon Clifford names Yorkshire Patron
BSS & SOCATOTS founder recognised by Welcome to Yorkshire
Simon Clifford, founder of the Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) and SOCATOTS, has been named an official Yorkshire Patron - an honour extended only to a select number of ambassadors from the region.
The honour sees the Leeds resident join the likes of William Hague, Michael Vaughan, Michael Parkinson and the late Jane Tomlinson, as well as stars of the small-screen, Patrick Stewart and Brian Blessed.
Simon founded the BSS in 1996 and, from its head office in the city centre, it has grown into the largest football coaching organisation of its kind with over one million children aged 5-18 training at centres worldwide. As of 2011, there are BSS centres around the UK, as well as in America, Australia, Holland, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand, South Africa, New Zealand and Norway amongst others.
The 40-year old also identified the need for pre-school education that uses football as a medium to encourage child development, and developed this idea from 1998 until 2001 when he founded SOCATOTS, an organisation aimed at 6-month to five year olds. The unparalleled success of SOCATOTS has seen centres open in a host of locations around the UK and overseas, including set-ups in Dubai, Thailand, Singapore, Norway, Spain, Ireland, Egypt, Australia, Poland and South Africa.
The likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale have benefitted from Simon’s work, with players including Micah Richards and Leeds United’s own Aidan White graduating from BSS.
Simon also bought the East Leeds club Garforth Town in 2003. Since then, the side have secured two promotions, making it Leeds’ second club in stature. The club have been amongst some of the biggest sport stories in recent years, having secured former Brazil greats Socrates, Careca and Jairzinho for short spells at the Genix Healthcare stadium and giving the club worldwide attention. Simon has since retired to work behind the scenes, but still plays an important role in the development of the club.
On being named a Yorkshire Patron, Simon said: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have been asked to represent the county. I was brought up in Loftus, near Middlesbrough, and moved to Leeds at 19 to attend University, where I have lived ever since. My job has allowed me to visit some of the finest destinations across the globe, but Leeds will always be my favourite city. I am and always will be a proud Yorkshireman, and I hope that I am worthy and of use to the county as I go about promoting it with the passion and spirit it deserves."
Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said “We are delighted to bring Simon into the esteemed ranks of our Yorkshire patrons.
“His rise in both the football and business worlds has been remarkable and we are confident he will do an excellent job in flying the flag for our great county.”
Simon’s talents have also been enlisted by various Hollywood heavyweights, and he has choreographed films including Bend it Like Beckham, There’s Only One Jimmy Grimble, Kicking & Screaming and The Damned United.
