Ewloe based aerial imaging firm showcases drone tech to elite football coaches

A local aerial imaging company recently enjoyed a weekend with football’s elite showcasing how cutting edge technology using drones could improve coaching analysis.

M7 Aerial, based in Ewloe, worked alongside a range of ex and current professionals studying coach education courses at the FAW’s National Football Conference in Dragon Park.

The company were invited to film training sessions using their state-of-the-art UAV cameras – known conventionally as drones.

Sessions by Wales national team manager Chris Coleman, ex-Arsenal duo Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira and Everton coach Dennis Lawrence were all captured and reviewed as the drones highlighted how the unique angles can change how coaches analyse player movements.

The idea came about after FAW coach educators Gareth Owen and Carl Darlington saw the technology and considered how aerial footage could improve their training methods.

M7aerial’s Mark Wynne said:

“We did some work Gareth and Carl and they spotted how seeing training sessions from above changed perceptions. They could see spaces and movements you wouldn’t see from the ground.

“Both Gareth and Carl were instrumental in getting us to move forward with the technology. They spoke to Osian Roberts, who is the ‘coach of coaches’ at the FAW. He has led the likes of David Ginola and Didi Hamann to complete their coaching badges.

“Osian thought it was great and invited us down to Dragon Park to show how it could work, and that it was safe. That then built the confidence to invite us down to the National Conference where we showcased the idea to over 150 coaches.

NEWPORT, WALES – Saturday, May 30, 2015: Wales’ manager Chris Coleman with Drone company M7 during the Football Association of Wales’ National Coaches Conference 2015 at Dragon Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

“We covered the four training sessions and everyone reviewed the footage and was impressed. They were able to look at the 2D plans in GloballCoach coaching software and marry it up with our aerial footage. It’s fascinating to see things at a different angle, and it works much better than pole cameras because it’s much more moveable.

“Thierry came down to see the footage and said he saw things he didn’t see from the ground. He was able to see that the back four was too flat, or a player moved too early, which he didn’t originally spot.

“There is a strong case for the technology to be used across the game going forward.”

Former England footballer Michael Owen has become a part owner of the venture after seeing it capitalise on advancements in drone technology to improve sport analysis.

Check out some of the stunning footage from M7aerial projects.