Award-winning Coach Delighted With Surge in Student Numbers After Champions’ League Parade

A football coaching degree has won new support as the soccer season draws to a close.

The BSc Football Coaching and the Performance Specialist at Wrexham Glyndwr University is in strong shape for 2017/18 after a rise in recruitment.

Lecturer Sara Hilton says the course welcomes applications from all individuals interested in pursuing a career in football, whether it be as a coach, physiologist, psychologist or performance analyst.

“It’s an exciting time to pursue a career in sport. If people are interested they can get in touch and apply for the course,” said Sara, who was last year named Performance Coach of the Year at the FA Wales (FAW) Community Awards.

The 25 year-old recently led players from North Wales performance centres on a parade of the Champions’ League trophy in Cardiff.

Also a coach of Crewe Alexandra ladies’ first team – she was given the prestigious task as part of the award, and now looks forward to working with the next generation in partnership with the FA of Wales (FAW).

“The response to the first year of the course has been fantastic,” said Sara, whose own footballing dreams were cut short by injury as a teenager.

“The practical nature – our students are not just sat in the classroom, they are out on the training pitch – is one of its biggest selling points.”

She added: It’s fair to say football is still a male-dominated sport – and the majority on the course are men – but the women’s game is growing in popularity and we do have a female on the degree already.

“There has also been a lot of interest for the coming year from women wanting to study with us, which shows how the tide is changing.”

The course is open to all; while it is football-based there are a lot of elements that can be used in other careers, with leadership, team work and strategy key areas of study. Those taking part will be based on Wrexham campus, and at the University’s Colliers Park training facility.

Programme leader Pamela Richards, Associate Head of the School of Social and Life Sciences, said: “The BSc Football Coaching and the Performance Specialist degree is designed in partnership with the FAW to prepare students who want to work as a coach or performance specialist.

“Students on the programme will work towards the FAW Level 2 (C Certificate) and Level 3 (UEFA B) coaching Licenses. Those completing the programme will develop the skills to work with youth and senior football teams at grassroots and a high performance level.

“We are not even a year into the degree and it is already growing at a significant pace, providing opportunities for students from different areas and different backgrounds, which is fantastic to see. Football is a sport which is accessible to all, and this qualification has shown that.”

For more information visit the Wrexham Glyndwr University website or register for the University’s open day on Saturday June 10.