Meet
The
Team
Chris Dolby - Managing Director / Head of Football
IDA´s Managing Director, Chris Dolby, is recognized as the English Football League’s First Asian Professional Footballer making his debut with Rotherham United against Brentford in 1993. Since then Chris has spent the last 30 years working in the world of professional football having developed a large professional network across the globe.
One of Chris´s main focuses during the program duration will be to ensure that the quality delivered to IDA members remains at the highest possible standard - utilizing his own personal experience of what a professional environment looks like. His longstanding network with pro clubs throughout the UK will also be fundamental in creating opportunities for our student-athletes in the form of showcase games and experiences at the highest possible level. Having lived and played in Sheffield for the majority of his life, Chris also maintains an equal passion for introducing aspiring players to our unique football culture.
Nick Travis - Head Coach // UEFA A Licensed Coach
The Head Coach of the IDA program, Nick Travis, holds extensive experience in the world of professional football having enjoyed a successful playing career that saw him play professionally in England, Australia, and Italy. More recently Travis has enjoyed spells coaching in the Premier League where he was part of Chris Wilder ́s backroom staff that recorded the highest-ever points tally in England's top flight.
Enoch Showunmi – Recruitment Advisor, USA
Enoch is a former professional football player with a career spanning over 12 years. Throughout his career, Enoch has played in the prestigious ranks of renowned clubs including Leeds United FC, Bristol City FC, and Notts County FC, amassing over 400 appearances. Enoch also had the honour of representing the Nigerian national team and demonstrating his talents on an international scale.
After completing his bachelor's degree in business administration, Enoch continued to excel in his education, whilst continuing his professional career and earned a master’s degree in finance.
Enoch is now based in Naples, Florida and devotes his time and expertise to forging pathways for players to progress their football careers. He has guided players through professional contracts both nationally and internationally, helping them to earn scholarships to esteemed colleges and universities.
James Dawes - Head of Recruitment
Having grown up in the English Academy system prior to making the transition to pursue a soccer scholarship in the US, James Dawes, joins the IDA team with personal experience of being an international student-athlete. His insight into what it´s like to live the life of a student-athlete abroad will no doubt be a great asset to our coaching staff and support mechanism for our IDA members. James will also be directly involved in the scouting and identification process, working to discover talented players with the credentials to join our program here in the UK through his existing professional network.
Having worked and played in a professional environment in the US, Spain and the UK James will look to utilise his experience to further reinforce the ethos of IDA. Through the education of young aspiring players on how to successfully navigate through the industry, along with the experience of having played in 3 different countries on 2 different continents, James will look to share his experiences of dealing with the mental and physical stresses of competing in an elite-level environment.
