MARK EACOCK works full time as a Professional Anglers’ Association coach to bring people into the sport but can’t understand why tackle firms are so reluctant to give him their backing.
He is fully booked until the end of the year, with proposals set out for the next school year in Hereford and Worcestershire, not to mention free ‘taster days’ to try and encourage the less fortunate in our communities. Indeed, he is so busy he’s using other coaches on a self-employed basis to cope with demand.
Yet, with all these potential new anglers, tackle companies are still failing to support him and 95 per cent of his tackle has been self-funded. Only Portway Angling Products and PCI have been willing to assist him so far. Mark explained: “I have written to all the major tackle dealers and bait suppliers with a 100 per cent blank to date! Perhaps we need to address this shortfall by putting up a contract that coaches can buy, hire or loan a coaching kit, and return it when finished (this gives the tackle manufacturers a little more confidence!). In our experience, the kids will want to buy the exact same kit that they have just caught a fish on!
“I think that all coaches in the PAA should be able to source coaching kits from a reputable source to maintain standards across the board.”
Mark is also trying to get sponsorship of a Transit van with clean water on tap, a portable toilet for the kids and storage for all the tackle and accessories.
A car accident four years ago left him with limited use of his left arm and a career change followed. He took, and passed, the Level 2 Coaching Certificate in Angling last year and is currently teaching more than of 60 children per week, whatever the weather.
Mark has also taken two 16-year-olds under his wing and they are taking the Level 1 in assisting coaching, with a job opportunity in coaching/angling when they have passed. They will be offered 20 hours per week employment, with the proviso that they attend a college to further their education and study land-based activities
