About Albion

Who we are

Born in Hawke’s Bay in 2017, Albion has grown into a football-development organisation working across player development, coach development, club and school partnerships, high-performance environments and individual pathways.

Our work is connected to the professional, national and international game while remaining grounded in a simple principle: outstanding development starts with understanding the person in front of you.

Albion creates development environments for players and coaches at different stages of the game - from first experiences through to advanced performance settings. Our responsibility is to provide the right challenge, the right support and a clear next step.

We believe football development is cognitive, technical and human. Players need to see and understand the game, execute with quality and develop the character to act under pressure. Coaches need the same commitment to observation, learning, reflection and growth.

Through expert coaching, genuine relationships and demanding but supportive environments, we aim to develop better footballers, better coaches and better people.

Development should lead somewhere. Our job is to help people take the next step.

Chris Greatholder

Chris Greatholder is the founder and Technical Director of Albion Coaching, where he leads the organisation’s football methodology, player development pathways, coach education and strategic direction.

An NZF/OFC A Licence coach, FIFA Coach Educator Diploma holder and New Zealand Football Advanced Coach Developer, Chris is currently completing the OFC/NZF Pro Diploma. He works nationally across New Zealand in coach education, supporting and developing coaches from grassroots through to A Licence level, including some of the country’s leading emerging and established coaches.

In 2026, Chris was appointed Technical Study Group Lead for the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship, Oceania’s qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The role reflects his growing involvement in international technical analysis, tournament observation and the identification of emerging trends across the game.

Through Albion Coaching, Chris has built a development model that combines high-performance standards with genuine care for the individual. His work is centred on developing intelligent, technically capable and resilient players, while helping coaches build the clarity, knowledge and confidence required to lead outstanding football environments.

“Our role is bigger than delivering good sessions. We want to create environments that challenge people, build confidence and help players and coaches understand what high performance actually looks like. The goal is to develop better footballers, better coaches and better people.”

Stephen Hoyle

Stephen has lived and breathed football around the world, playing professionally across four FIFA confederations and experiencing the game through a diverse range of cultures, playing styles and environments.

He is currently Head Coach of the Newcastle Jets in the A-League Women. Stephen holds an AFC A Licence and is currently studying his OFC/NZF Pro Diploma. He has also worked within New Zealand’s national-team pathway, including as Assistant Coach of the New Zealand U17 Women’s National Team, and is an NZF Advanced Coach Developer.

Through Albion, Stephen is passionate about using football to develop confident, courageous and capable people. His coaching is shaped by his experiences, his commitment to creating environments in which people can thrive, and his belief that football can positively influence players, coaches, clubs and communities.

"For me, football is more than a sport—it’s a vehicle for growth. The way you play is the way you approach life, and I want to create environments where players feel empowered to take risks, solve problems, and express themselves, both on and off the pitch. My job is to develop better footballers and better people."