OUR TEAM
Ajay Singh
Ajay is one of our Founders and is our Managing Director and Head of Coaching.
He is an experienced PE teacher of over 12 years and is an expert coach, leading classes in the West of Scotland and at select regional events.
More about Coach Ajay
Ajay has over 20 years’ experience in coaching and working with young people in football and multi-sports through various sporting and community programmes, alongside his job as a PE teacher.
He has an impressive football background and has a high level of experience in in the game. He is an ex-professional youth footballer, having played academy football for clubs in Scotland including St Mirren as well as top junior teams across the West of Scotland. He is well known in the junior football circuit in the West of Scotland having played for several top junior teams.
He was offered a full soccer scholarship in America out of 100 talented players, which he pursued and played in one of the top college divisions, with several talented footballers from around the world. During his time there, Challenger Sports recruited him as the Head Football Coach for their summer programme in California.
Ajay is a brilliant role model for every coach and he pro-actively guides and supports all Tots United® coaches to become the best they possibly can be.
He also offers specialist 1:1 coaching through the Tots United® 1:1 Personal Coaching programme for youngsters who are serious about taking their football development to the next level. He has worked with several youngsters helping them to break into pro-youth football and also supported the development of existing pro-youth footballers.
Being super passionate about coaching, Ajay still takes many of our classes each week. His classes are known to be super fun and high energy – and he typically manages to get the parents involved in his classes too!
Interests
Ajay likes to spend time with his family and loves his two boys dearly. He loves giving his boys lots of personal coaching on his days off!
He also likes playing football, going to the gym for yoga and meditation.
Ajay maintains an interest in charitable work and is involved in some community charity projects.
- Qualifications
- PGDE Physical Education (Secondary)
- Early Touches Certification, Scottish Football Association
- Coaching Youth Footballers Certification, Scottish Football Association
- Development Activities Certification, Scottish Football Association
- Coaching In The Game Certification, Scottish Football Association
- Badminton Leaders' Award Certification, Badminton Scotland
- UKCC Level 1 Basketball Award Certification
- UKCC Level 1 Cricket Award Certification
- UKCC Level 1 Netball Award Certification
- UKCC Level 1 Rugby Award Certification
Yousif Ahmed, Esq.
Yousif is one of our Founders and is the CEO of Tots United®.
He is also one of our specialist coaches and leads classes in the West of Scotland and at select events internationally.
More about Coach Yousif
Yousif comes from a strong sporting background and has a considerably high level of experience in sport and football. He is an ex-professional youth footballer, having played academy football for various clubs in Scotland including: Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibernian, Queens Park, Dumbarton and Partick Thistle. His most enjoyable spell was at Queens Park where he captained the youth team for successive seasons.
He also attended the Glasgow School of Sport - a specialist sports school dedicated towards nurturing and developing high performance athletes.
His coaching career started when he was around 16 years old at the same time he was playing professional youth football. Breaking into senior professional football was not to be, however in his late teenage years he was offered various soccer scholarships in the USA, but decided to remain in Scotland to study law and become a lawyer instead!
Yousif has maintained an active interest in coaching alongside his professional work outside of sport (Yousif is an award-winning international lawyer). In a coaching career now spanning decades, he has high level coaching experience not just in Scotland but across the UK, in the US and also in Dubai. Yousif has considerable experience and an excellent track record in running sport & recreational activities within communities locally, nationally and internationally.
These days, Yousif will lead some of our classes every now and then on a Saturday morning but is more focussed on supporting the next generation of coaches be all they can be and driving the growth and development of Tots United®.
Interests
Living by the motto: “service to others is the rent we pay for our room here on earth” - Muhammad Ali
Reading good books voraciously, travelling and playing sports recreationally (especially football and tennis).
Yousif maintains a keen interest in charitable work and in offering time and assistance to help people, particularly those in need or suffering hardship. Some of his pro-bono campaign work has featured in national mainstream press reports.
Qualifications
- LLB (Hons), DipLP, NP
- Coaching Youth Footballers Certification,
- Scottish Football Association
- Early Touches Certification, Scottish Football Association
- Badminton Leaders' Award Certification, Badminton Scotland
- Development Activities Certification,
- Scottish Football Association
Coach Cara
Assistant Coach
Cara is one of our assistant coaches at our classes in the West of Scotland.
More about Coach Cara
Cara has recently finished high school and is in the process of commencing her studies within the travel and tourism industry and at the same time, pursuing her interest in sports coaching.
Her coaching journey began while she was at school, after she was invited to help out at our classes and she discovered that she actually loves working with children! She is particularly fond of helping children learn and work on key skills. Her strengths include being able to communicate effectively with children and helping them to succeed in class activities. She loves contributing and making a positive impact for children. Cara is known to have a kind and caring demeanour and will often try to lend a little extra help and support to children who might need it. She is a wonderful assistant at our Tots United® classes!
Interests
Cara likes studying, adventuring somewhere in nature and working out in the gym.
Coach Chiara
Assistant Coach
Chiara is one of our assistant coaches at our classes in the West of Scotland.
More about Coach Chiara
Chiara is still in high school and is aspires to become a PE teacher. She is involved in several sporting clubs at school and loves coaching children.
She helps with coaching at various lunch time and after school clubs in both Primary and Secondary school. Chiara has completed her Sports Leaders Level 5 award, being able to lead several different activities to small and large groups in the community. She really enjoys working with children and helping them improve in every session. Her strengths include being warm and fun and being able to support every child at her class. Chiara is known to be very smiley and happy, and many children find her to be one of their favourite coaches! She is a fantastic assistant at Tots United® classes.
Interests
Chiara is an impressive runner! She regularly competes in Park Runs and completes 5k and 10k runs in impressive times. She also enjoys basketball and spending time with family and friends.
Coach Gary
Lead Coach
Gary is one of our specialist coaches and leads classes in the West of Scotland.
More about Coach Gary
Gary has considerable experience working with children and supporting their development: 13 years’ experience working in residential childcare with various education training (Child Protection, Child Care Law, Safe Crisis Management, Developmental Assets, First Aid, Mental Health & Well-being); 17 years’ experience raising two children as a single parent; 5 years’ managing amateur football teams, as well as playing regular amateur football every week for decades.
Being passionate about football and coaching, he loves to help others get active and have fun as he believes in the many benefits of exercise such as fitness, encouraging health & wellbeing and building friendships and community.
Some of his strengths include: being patient and super encouraging; being attentive and adapting to different personalities in a positive way; and striving to be a good role model who is proud to support the developmental needs of children.
Interests
Gary has an interest in all types of sports (especially football) and maintaining fitness. He enjoys the outdoors and travelling.
Qualifications
- HNC (Social Care)
- SVQ 3 (Health & Social Care - Children & Young People)
- NC (Developmental Theories in Early Education & Childcare)
- Registered with Scottish Social Services Council
- Children Wellbeing in Scottish Football, Scottish Football Association
- Introduction to Coaching, Scottish Football Association
- Coaching in the Game Certification, Scottish Football Association
- Early Touches Certification, Scottish Football Association
- Coaching Young Footballers Certification, Scottish Football Association
Coach Hazel
Assistant Coach
Hazel is one of our assistant coaches at our classes in the West of Scotland.
More about Coach Hazel
Hazel has recently finished high school, achieving an impressive five As in her Highers. She will be going on to study languages at university and at the same time pursuing her interest in coaching.
Her coaching career started while she was at school, helping at various after-school clubs and health and wellbeing events. She loves working with children and finds it very fulfilling! Her strengths include being able to lead children in fun activities and offer support and guidance to those that require that extra help. Hazel is known to be very warm and caring towards children and will always go the extra mile to support their development. She is known to be pro-active and helpful. She is a lovely assistant at Tots United® classes.
Interests
Hazel loves dancing! She competes at a high level in her dance club and likes to keep in good shape. She also enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.
Coach Kaitlin
Lead Coach
Kaitlin is one of our specialist coaches and leads classes in the West of Scotland.
More about Coach Kaitlin
She started coaching in October 2021 as an assistant/head coach at her high school and has shown determination in pursuing her interest in coaching by volunteering with different sports clubs, gaining experience along the way. Kaitlin has volunteered at events such as the Renfrewshire Schools Sports day event at the Linwood On-X, Paisley 10k Race and The Children’s Fun Run.
With an innate love for both sports and teaching, she decided to combine these interests to pursue coaching opportunities with us at Tots United®.
Kaitlin loves working with children and helping them to learn and develop skills that will set them up well for life! Her strengths include devising, teaching and leading fun games that develop different skills and offering extra attention to children who need a bit more support. Kaitlin is known for having a big smile and brings lots of care and love to her Tots United® classes!
Interests
Kaitlin likes taking an interest in all types of sport, volunteering in worthwhile causes and also likes playing video games from time to time.
Qualifications
- HND Sports Coaching and Development, West College Scotland
Coach Ross
Lead Coach
Ross is one of our specialist coaches and leads classes in the West of Scotland.
More about Coach Ross
Ross attended Paisley Grammar School and then pursued his interest in sport at the University of the West of Scotland, where he graduated with Honours with a degree in Sports and Exercise Science.
He has a love for football and played with various teams including Harmony Row and Partick Thistle. As a talented footballer, he travelled to Spain and Holland to compete in football tournaments and won leagues, cups and individual trophies throughout his playing career.
Following his football career, he moved into coaching to continue being involved in football. Ross is passionate about helping children learn and develop their footballing skills and have lots of fun at the same time! His strengths include teaching new skills and leading fun games, with a particular emphasis on improving footballing ability. Ross is known to be a happy chappy and brings lots of fun football games to his Tots United® classes!
Interests
Ross loves playing football recreationally and also enjoys a spot of Golf. He likes watching movies at the cinema and spending time with his family and partner.
Qualifications
- Sports and Exercise Science, University of the West of Scotland
Coach Sophie
Lead Coach
Sophie is one of our specialist coaches and leads classes in the West of Scotland.
More about Coach Sophie
She started coaching when she was 16 through volunteering programmes where she worked with school children in primary schools and afterschool clubs. She is passionate about coaching and enjoys assisting in the learning and development of children taking part in her classes. Sophie is very keen in supporting children to work on and improve their skills each week. Her strengths include identifying and understanding the individual needs of children to help them maximise their potential. Sophie is known to be energetic, enthusiastic and up-beat to ensure children have a great experience at her Tots United® classes!
Interests
Sophie is a keen dancer, which is something she has been doing since she was only 4 years old! She also enjoys going shopping, out with friends and spending time with her family.
Qualifications
- Sport Studies, Stirling University
- HND in Coaching and Developing Sport, City of Glasgow College