Announcement: Gareth Hughes Appointed Technical Director & Head of Academy

Port Coquitlam Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Gareth (Gaz) Hughes as our new Technical Director &Head of Academy

Gareth is a UEFA-licensed coach who brings over a decade of experience working

within elite academy environments in England, alongside extensive leadership

experience in player development, coach education, and program design.

Playing & Coaching Background

Gareth began his football journey as a youth player with Manchester City before going

on to play at various clubs within the English National League system. Following his

playing career, he trained as a Physical Education teacher, developing a strong

foundation in learning and development, before transitioning into a full-time professional

coaching—where he has since built an extensive career within elite academy football

environments.

Professional Background

Having recently served as Head of Elite Coaching & Player Pathway at the club,

Gareth has already made a significant impact in shaping our playing philosophy, game

model, and a high-performance environment. His promotion to Technical Director marks

an exciting step forward in the continued growth and development of Port Coquitlam

FC.

Gareth was a lead coach at both Stoke City FC and Bury FC. Whilst also working with

clubs such as Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool to identify and

work with players from his hometown of Manchester, England.

Vision for the Club

As Technical Director & Head of Academy, Gareth will oversee all aspects of football

development across the club. His approach is centred around developing technically

strong, intelligent, and confident players within a positive, challenging, and

professional environment.

Looking Ahead

This appointment reinforces Port Coquitlam FC’s commitment to long-term player development, coach education, and delivering a clear, unified football philosophy across

all age groups.

Gareth commented:

“I’m incredibly proud to take on the role of Technical Director at Port Coquitlam FC. This is a fantastic club with strong values and a clear ambition to develop players the right way. I’m excited to continue building a high-quality environment for both players and coaches, and to support every individual within the club to reach their full potential.”

We look forward to an exciting future under Gareth’s leadership and continued growth

across all areas of the club.