Get To Know Your Coach - Harvey Marchant

Harvey Marchant could not have asked for a better experience in his first season at the helm of Guelph Soccer’s U16 Boys Academy team last year. Marchant, a product of Fleet, England and former U of G Gryphon player, embraced the opportunity to relay his knowledge of the game to a talented, engaged group.

“The boys were always receptive, focused, and excited to be there and to learn,” Marchant says of the side that will play as U17s this season. “I was fortunate to be surrounded by a team of very helpful staff members that only made the process smoother, and I am very grateful for that as it allowed me to focus solely on the coaching.”

“This past year, I stressed that development came first and results second. I’m really proud of how far the team has come as individuals and a collective, and I hope the players feel the same.”

Marchant returns to lead the same group in 2024/25. Coaching has become a definite focus for the 24-year-old former midfielder/defender, in part because of the incredible guidance he’s received since arriving in North America a few years ago.

Marchant grew up in Fleet, England, located about 60 kilometres southwest of London. He says it was a great place to spend his childhood, a town that was safe and provided plenty of footballing opportunities. Like many English kids, he eventually fell in love with the game. Though unlike most, it took time and he didn’t have a specific team that he supported.

“I actually don’t support anyone, and never really have,” he says. “Most of my youth career was spent playing with AFC Wimbledon, and I loved catching their games as much as we could. Our local side, Aldershot Town FC, are also responsible for some great childhood memories.

“I played for my local club at the time, Crookham Rovers, and started when I was four or five years old. It took me a while to really love the game to be honest, but transitioning to the academy system at 10 years old really kickstarted my passion.”

Marchant says that every young boy in England wants to pursue football at some point in their lives, and he feels fortunate to have the opportunities that allowed him to play at a high level. Before coming to the U of G to play for Coach Keith Mason’s Gryphons program and study Human Kinetics, he was a member of Woking FC’s U23 side, while also completing his A levels. A future path in either Canada or the United States was inevitable.

“Universities here blend academics and sports far better than they do in the UK, and I wanted to maintain and prioritize the highest level possible of each,” says Marchant, who was always interested in the biomechanics and physiology of the human body. “Coach Mason reached out to me during my school search, and I was struck by the athletic program and facilities, the academic program, and the city of Guelph and I haven’t looked back since.”

“My experiences with the Gryphons and then Guelph United have been second to none,” adds the two-time recipient of the prestigious Gryphon Athletics President’s Trophy (in both 2022 and 2024). “There is an incredible and rare sense of family and camaraderie among the teams. More importantly than winning the OUA West championship, or League 1 in GUFC’s inaugural year, I’m thankful to have made so many great friends and connections across my four years here. I was part of a special program and developed as a player and person.”

That memorable period kickstarted Marchant’s passion for coaching. Going back to his time at AFC Wimbledon, he had a coach who was a former professional and taught him so much about the game. Coach Mason was another excellent mentor, a leader who makes his players feel welcome and valuable.

“I aim to replicate that in my coaching,” he says. “The players I work with are at a crucial and sensitive point in their careers, and I do my best to help them navigate these tricky times.

“I want to build trust and rapport with each athlete, recognizing the importance of individual relationships in achieving team success. I also empathize with my players, understanding the pressures and demands that they are under with teenage life, school, wanting to make it in the sport, and everything else in between.

“My core principles come from my earlier playing years in England. I focus more on player development than winning and look to create positive environments in which players feel comfortable taking risks and making mistakes. I like to emphasize the basics, the little things that are often overlooked but separate the good players from the great ones.”

It will be a busy year for Marchant between coaching at the Guelph Soccer Academy and starting an MASc in Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo. In his thesis, he plans to bridge the gap between his undergraduate degree and various engineering principles to improve athletic and everyday performance through the sports engineering industry.

What Marchant finds most interesting about the Academy’s U17 boys is the unique dynamic of the team. He says that each player brings their own personality, strengths, energy, and perspective to the group, which adds depth to the practices and games.

His goal is to integrate these diverse talents and viewpoints into the overall strategy, making sure that everyone has a role that maximizes their potential and contributes to the team's success.

“Seeing all these elements come together on the field is hugely fulfilling and makes the coaching experience truly worthwhile,” Marchant says.

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Written by: David DiCenzo