The rising sun bathes Herefordshire’s rolling hillsides in a warm glow as birds sing softly and sheep graze in the fields.

But this rural idyll is shattered by the sound of explosions, followed by columns of smoke and deafening screams.

Six camouflaged men rush to the scene and find a soldier screaming for help while clutching his bloody leg, half of which appears to have been torn off.

Fortunately, the blood is fake and it is an actor, albeit a former soldier and amputee, and the first to respond are a group of football coaches studying for their Uefa Pro Licence, the sport’s highest coaching qualification.

Former Arsenal midfielder and Wales captain Aaron Ramsey applies a tourniquet, while former Chelsea and Argentina goalkeeper Willy Caballero comforts the victim.

Also part of the group are Peterborough United boss Luke Williams and Michael Wilde, who manages Colwyn Bay in the Cymru Premier, brought together for this intensive two-day exercise with military-trained personnel.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) professional licensing course has been described as the “Harvard of football coaching” and counts Arsenal’s Premier League-winning coach Mikel Arteta among its graduates.

He is now world-renowned, as illustrated by this latest group of candidates.

“The FAW has built an incredible reputation in the world of coach education,” says Michael Bradley, a former United States and Roma midfielder who now coaches the New York Red Bulls.

“I’ve had great experiences with FAW. I got my B License, my A License here and now to have the opportunity to complete my Pro License is a great honour.”