The Royal Navy Football Association welcome new Men's Senior Representative team manager

Lt Cdr Chris James has been appointed as the new Men’s Senior Representative team manager for the Royal Navy Football Association.

Chris comes with a wealth of experience as a coach, having previously managed the Royal Navy Under 23’s Representative team to win back-to-back inter-service titles this year.

He also coaches at Premier League AFC Bournemouth so has a broad richness of talent in developing young players.

Chris replaces CPOPT Mark Feighery, who also followed a similar coaching pathway to Chris, leading the U23 team to success before stepping up to the seniors. Mark leaves the Royal Navy later this year after completing twenty-two years’ service and outstanding contribution to service football. 

On being appointed Chris commented, “It is a great honour to be appointed Manager of the Royal Navy Men’s Senior Football Team, to represent the Royal Navy at the highest level and to continue to work with the Royal Navy Football Association, and organisation with nearly one hundred and twenty years of history.

“This is an extremely proud day for me and for my family who have always supported me through my football playing and coaching life wherever it has taken me. 

“I would like to thank the Royal Navy Football Association Management Team for this opportunity and I am excited to continue our journey together as I move into this role from the Royal Navy U23 Development Team Manager’s position, a job that has been hugely enjoyable for me. 

“This is of course a wonderful opportunity, but this job is about winning the inter-services, and to achieve that there is a lot of work to do so I am eager to get the squad together as soon as possible, get on the training pitch and start the work with the players.

“Thankfully the squad is in great shape and I look forward to building on the excellent work undertaken over the last couple of seasons by Mark Feighery and his team.

“I cannot wait to get started.”