Joe White Joins Foundation as Head Coach

The New Croft Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Joe White as its new Head Coach. 

Following the Easter break, Joe will officially join the Foundation, where he will take the lead on delivering and developing all Football in the Community programmes. His appointment ensures continued strength and consistency within the Foundation as it maintains its commitment to delivering meaningful opportunities for young people across the community.

Joe is already a well-known and respected face around The New Croft, having played an important role within the football pathway at Haverhill Rovers FC, where he previously coached and managed the Women’s team, stepped in as interim coach for the Men’s First Team and coached within the Eastern Junior Alliance (EJA) provision. His strong connection to the club and venue makes his transition into the Foundation a natural and exciting progression.

Joe brings with him a wealth of coaching experience and knowledge, holding a UEFA B Licence and a strong background in grassroots, academy and senior football environments. His experience also includes working within professional and category one academy environments including Ipswich Town, Norwich City and Cambridge United Women’s Academy, where he supported the development of young players in high-performance settings.

Alongside his club experience, Joe had a successful coaching business, delivering youth football programmes and school-based provision, helping young players develop both on and off the pitch. He also holds a degree in Physical Education and Sports Coaching, further strengthening his ability to create structured, engaging and educational sporting environments.

In his new role, Joe will oversee the planning and delivery of all football sessions within the Foundation’s community programmes, ensuring participants of all ages and abilities receive high-quality coaching in a positive and inclusive environment.

Joe will join former women’s professional footballer Yvonne Tracy to form The New Croft Foundation’s core football coaching team. With a blend of professional playing experience, academy-level coaching and educational expertise, the pair offer an outstanding level of knowledge and support to young people taking part in the Foundation’s programmes.

Joe White said: "I’m incredibly excited to be joining The New Croft Foundation. From the very beginning, it was clear that my values and the Foundation’s vision aligned perfectly and I saw this as a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference in the community.

For me, sport is a powerful vehicle for developing life skills, confidence, teamwork and resilience, particularly at the ages the Foundation works with. I’m looking forward to creating an environment where children feel supported, inspired and genuinely excited to take part, learn and grow."

Peter Betts, a Trustee at The New Croft Foundation, added: "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Joe to the Foundation team. As someone who is already a familiar face around The New Croft through his work with Haverhill Rovers, Joe understands our community, children, players and our environment.

His experience across grassroots, academy and educational settings makes him an outstanding addition and we are confident he will play a key role in strengthening and growing our Football in the Community programmes. Joe shares our passion for providing inclusive, high-quality opportunities for young people and we are excited to see the positive impact he will have on participants, families and the wider community."

Joe’s appointment supports the continued delivery of the Foundation’s community programmes, ensuring accessible football opportunities remain available to inspire participation, promote wellbeing, and support personal development through sport.