Inspiring future careers in professional sport
Through the university’s partnership with Portsmouth Football Club, local Portsmouth school pupils have taken part in a variety of outreach experiences, including a competition showcase event celebrating 125 years of the football club’s history.
A key aim of the University of Portsmouth’s partnership with Portsmouth Football Club (Portsmouth FC) is to increase participation in higher education throughout the city. To support this ambition, the Recruitment and Outreach team at the University work collaboratively with Portsmouth Football Club to deliver engaging and inspiring outreach activity with Portsmouth schools and colleges.
Careers in Football
So far this academic year, more than 1,100 young people have had visits to their school or college, by Portsmouth FC players, club staff and the university outreach team (more than 4,600 since the partnership began in 2019).
As well as providing a chance for young people to meet club players, the visits are an important opportunity to highlight the wide range of potential careers in professional football, and professional sport more broadly.
Alongside club staff and players, members of the Recruitment and Outreach team at the university have delivered talks and mock press conferences, bringing to life the career opportunities available and the kinds of educational pathways that can help pave the way.
Sessions focused on linking subjects to potential careers in sport, and emphasised some shared values among professional footballers, managers, marketers, or anyone working within the world of professional sport, such as:
- Turning up and being present
- Performing at your best
- Overcoming challenges
How to land a career in football
This year, the university and Portsmouth FC partnership has also seen the development of a new ‘How to land a career in football’ video resource.
If young people have a passion for the game and want to turn it into a career, there are dozens of ways to make it happen. With examples from staff in various roles across Portsmouth Football Club, the video highlights some of the careers available to young people, from sports science to operations through to marketing and commercial roles.
How to land a career in football | University of Portsmouth
If you've got a passion for the game and want it to be your career, there are dozens of opportunities to make that happen. From sports science and operations through to marketing and commercial, there are countless ways to get into the sport, develop your career and combine what you're good at with your passion.
Through our partnership with Portsmouth FC, we've highlighted just some of options open to young people, how their staff got into their roles and what they enjoy about professional football being their day to day.
In video
Portsmouth Football Club: 125 years
Following the visits in schools, secondary school students were given the opportunity to take part in a competition to produce a creative sports media piece in celebration of Pompey125 – marking 125 years since Portsmouth Football Club was established.
Teams were invited to a showcase event at Fratton Park on 18 April 2024, where they displayed their competition entries and presented their work to a panel of peers and expert judges from Portsmouth FC and the university.
Teams and their parents also enjoyed a tour of Fratton Park and another chance to meet the club staff who help to ensure the successful operations of the professional football team.
- The Portsmouth Academy Team A: A video presentation celebrating the history of the 2 time FA Cup winning Portsmouth FC
- The Portsmouth Academy Team B: A presentation highlighting some key successes for Portsmouth FC, and including staff and student interviews from their own school
- Priory School: A video presentation documenting the football and societal history surrounding Portsmouth FC
- Mayfield School: Designed a club shirt bringing together representations of the City of Portsmouth, the football club and the 125 year anniversary.
Participating schools were each awarded a signed and framed Portsmouth FC shirt for display and in recognition of their collaborative partnering with the university. Students were awarded a stadium tour, signed footballs and certificates for their hard work and commitment to the competition, with the winning student also receiving match tickets for the new season.
Seeing students across the city engage with our 'More than just a game' talk has been amazing. Taking professional footballers and club staff into schools has been a big draw, and through interactive Q&A, students have learned the importance; of showing up and being present, performing at their best, and seeking support when facing obstacles—insights that resonate strongly with being successful in education.
It’s also been fantastic introducing students to the wide range of career opportunities in football and connecting them with the University of Portsmouth's course offerings.
Students also had the chance to unleash their creativity and bring energy to an end-of-term creative showcase event at the iconic Fratton Park. This successful collaboration strengthens the partnership between the football club and the university.
Education is vital for a thriving community, and by partnering with the football club to visit schools and colleges, I feel we’ve encouraged young people to explore new career paths and inspired them to consider higher education.
The partnership creates opportunities for community engagement and student development, while strengthening the link between education and extracurricular activities, enriching everyone involved.
Tian Barratt, Outreach Manager at the University of Portsmouth, shares some reflections after a successful year of partnership work between the university outreach team and Portsmouth FC.