Mike Ditchfield
Professional sportsman, author, entrepreneur
and humanitarian, Mike Ditchfield, completed a
recreational studies course at our Ilkley campus in
1978.
Mike’s remarkable career has been an
incredible journey - that began with one.
On a 6 week vacation to the United States,
he got off the plane with his luggage when
it refuelled in Boston and never looked back!
He was rapidly talent spotted and became
a football coach and then joined the Denver
Broncos as a place kicker. At the time he
commented, “It has been a fairy tale story
for me. I have come through all the wrong
channels for football, but it all comes down
to who can kick in a game – who, under
pressure, can put the ball through those two
sticks.”
Mike went on to become Head Soccer
Coach at Penn State University, a sports
motivational speaker and wrote Coaching
Soccer the Progressive Way with Walter
Bahr.
Blessed with talent and business acumen,
Mike has used his considerable skills to
help a number of humanitarian causes. He
donates a percentage of the profits from
his restaurant to the Sixteenth of May
Foundation, a charity he co-founded. As
President and CEO he works tirelessly to
transform lives.
“My time in Yorkshire was a watering
shed that gave me much in the way of
confidence and vision to tackle life in
America. After publishing a best selling
book on soccer and spending time working
with the less fortunate in Ethiopia, Rwanda
and now Darfur, I have a restaurant in
Denver Colorado called Jing. I still travel
to the Sudan where I am building villages
for the returning refugees from the grasp
of genocide. My Foundation continues
to support those who cannot support
themselves....yet.”
Photograph supplied by Mike Ditchfield