UCLan Sports Studies update

New Associate Lecturer Andrew Sprake (left) is set for a busy few months after taking over management of the UCLanSport Floodlit Cup.

Division Leader Nick Passenger has handed over the running of this year's competition to Andrew, which helps forge links with schools and provides volunteering opportunities to students across a variety of sports programmes.

Preston Grasshoppers have hosted four games so far, with Birkdale High School, St Ambrose, ArnoldKEQMS and Stockport Grammar School all progressing to the quarter-final stage.

The PGDE deadline is fast approaching and it's always nice to receive feedback from our Alumni about their development. Ben McGarry and Matthew Dixon are undertaking their PGDE's at Loughborough University and are doing well in their two initial placements at Ivanhoe College and Trent College (Independent School) respectively.

We also have two graduates on the School Direct scheme, with Megan Greaves excelling at Millfield School near Blackpool and Jonathan Barber progressing well at Lakes College in Cumbria.

Away from teaching, Tom Downward has started his internship at the Isle of Man National Sports Centre, while Jessica Horne has confirmed she's off to Dubai to work for Ethiad Airways.

Football experts remain in big demand

Researchers from our International Football Institute (IFI) have been busy over the past few weeks, working on a variety of high-profile projects.

Dr Iain Adams' studies into football during World War One resulted in him being invited to deliver a public lecture at the National Archives in Surrey. The presentation, entitled 'Over the Top - A foul, a blurry foul: the first football charge of The Great War' will be released via podcast in the coming weeks.

Professor John Hughson has been one of the editors of a new book entitled 'New Directions in Sport History'. Co-edited by Duncan Stone and Rob Ellis from the University of Huddersfield, the book contains chapters by Professor Hughson and Dr Adams.

PhD student Graham Deakin recently presented a very well-received paper - 'Up Close & Personal: The Changing Media Image of the 1960's Football Hero' - at the British Society of Sports History's annual conference at Swansea University.

To find out more about IFI please click here.

Life-changing trips inspire graduate's career choice

Grace Thind enjoyed her time at UCLan so much she decided to use her degree to secure a full-time role in higher education.

The Sports Studies graduate has joined the University of Salford as a Sports Assistant - a varied role which includes reception and lifeguard duties.

Grace joined our programme after completing a BTEC college course and said the huge range of opportunities to study different aspects of the sporting industry was the reason she chose UCLan.

She commented: "The course completely lived up to my expectations as every student has the opportunity to tailor it towards their desired career path, whether that be teaching, coaching or personal training - there is no limit.

"When I joined UCLan I'd no idea what I wanted to do as a job. I just knew I loved sport and wanted to make a career out of it. I found my calling in my second year on a module called 'Sport for International Development' which showed how to use sport as a tool to address issues other than ones that were sport-related."

Grace travelled to Zambia to work with vulnerable children, delivering key life skill messages through activities and games. The trip was a life-changing experience, opening her eyes to the power of sport and massively improving her confidence.

In her final year Grace took advantage of another international opportunity, visiting North Carolina State University and interacting with the sports students and staff there. This inspired her to pursue a career in education.

"I love being in the university environment and I loved my time at NC State, so I'd like to continue to work within institutions nationally or internationally and take on roles with the opportunity to develop and progress within the sporting sector," said Grace. "I'd also like to have some involvement in international sport for development.

"All of this wouldn't have been possible without the help, support and opportunities made available to me by the staff at UCLan, particularly Nick Passenger who leads the course.

"Nick went above and beyond his job expectations to ensure we were all on track and had the assistance and help we needed. He also offered countless amazing work opportunities, experiences and placements, both nationally and internationally.

"I wouldn't be the person I am today without UCLan and I can't thank them enough for everything they've provided me with. I'd 100% recommend this course. I've made lifelong friends and it's an experience I'll forever cherish and be grateful for."

Matty kickstarts his career with Link4Life

UCLan Sports Studies graduate Matty Howells is celebrating after joining Link4Life as a Sports Community Coach. Matty will work across the Rochdale area, teaching Physical Education to primary school children.

Link4Life lead and manage the delivery of high quality, enjoyable, affordable, accessible cultural provision in Rochdale Borough that gives residents and visitors the opportunity to lead the active, creative and healthy lifestyle of their choice.

Matty commented: "I enjoyed three amazing years at UCLan due to the enthusiastic, knowledgeable and supportive lecturers who helped create a dynamic and fun environment in all lectures and seminars.

"The students on my course all got along really well which helped us enjoy the degree to the max. I've become a much more organised and confident person in my ability to coach sports to children and with the added bonus of being able to cook!

"The Sports Studies programme gave me the opportunity to attend placements through which I gained invaluable experience, whilst the university's careers service helped me structure my CV and gave me tips on how to prepare for job interviews.

"The highlight of my time on the course was having the chance to represent UCLan on a trip to North Carolina State University which was an amazing experience. Thanks to all the staff and Sports Studies 2012-2015 crew for everything."

Leah opts for a life on the ocean waves

The UCLan Sports Studies course provides graduates with a wide range of skills to enhance their future employability.

Careers in sport and teaching are the most popular choices for those who successfully complete the programme, but its diverse nature can also lead students into other areas such as tourism or the outdoors.

Leah Bradbury is a great example of this, securing a role as a Retail Assistant on board the Cunard cruise liner MS Queen Victoria.

She said: "I picked the Sports Studies degree to learn about a wide range of topics surrounding the subject, such as history and politics as well as enterprise.

"The course has given me the platform to gain experience in different career paths in order to make an informed decision about my future.

"My time at UCLan has been a mix of emotions. I've met friends for life but also had to know when to knuckle down. I know that both my experience and my degree played a huge part in me gaining my new job."

Graduates start new company

UCLan Sports Studies duo Carlton Evans and Luke Daniels are using the knowledge and experience gained on our programme to set up their own business.

Supported by Challenger Sports, Carlton and Luke will launch TinyTykes Preston in March 2016.

The scheme, created by childcare specialists, introduces children aged 18 months - 5 years to the basic skills of soccer.

Luke (far left) said the diverse nature of the Sports Studies course had been a big help in mapping out the path they wanted to choose.

"The course is very well run, with all the tutors and staff extremely helpful across the whole three years," he said.

"The modules are set out in a way that give you many different routes in sport, which sets you up for third year when you eventually have to choose one. I accumulated over 250 hours of coaching experience over my final two years, which has provided a perfect platform to start this business."

Luke and Carlton also enjoyed international experiences during their time on the course, working as Team Leaders on this year's UCLanSport for Development Project in Zambia.

They led two groups of second year students to an area with a high poverty rate in an attempt to deliver life lessons about HIV/AIDS and gender equality through the medium of sport.

The pair, who graduate later this month, will keep close ties to UCLan by offering coaching opportunities to undergraduates and utilising the expertise available at the university.

Triple election joy for sporting expert

Professor John Horne has been elected to positions of responsibility within three major international and national scholarly associations.

Professor Horne has joined the Nominations Committee of the Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS), become Vice Chair of the British Sociological Association (BSA) and from January 2016 will take up the role of Vice President and Treasurer of the International Sociology of Sport Association (ISSA).

The AcSS is the national academy of academics, learned societies and practitioners in the social sciences.

The Academy is made up of around 1000 individual Fellows, 43 Learned Societies and a number of affiliate members, together representing nearly 90,000 social scientists.

Founded in 1951, the BSA is the national subject association for sociologists in the UK and its primary objective is to promote sociology. Members of the Association are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and include researchers, teachers, students and practitioners in a variety of fields.

The Association represents UK sociology on key bodies both nationally and internationally, working closely with allied organizations to influence policies affecting sociology within the wider social sciences remit.

Through its publications, research groups and busy calendar of events, the BSA provides a network of communication to enable the promotion and use of sociology and sociological research.

The ISSA is a research committee of the International Sociological Association (ISA) where it is officially recognized as RC27 (Sociology of Sport) and also an official committee of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE).

ISSA holds annual conferences, including congresses in conjunction with the World Congress of Sociology and the Pre-Olympic Scientific Congress, and publishes the International Review for the Sociology of Sport (IRSS).

Professor Horne's expertise has been in much demand throughout 2015, joining panel discussions at Leeds Beckett and Bournemouth Universities, and following up his recent research into sports mega-events by co-editing a collection of articles with Professor Richard Gruneau from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver.

Entitled 'Mega-Events and Globalization: Capital and Spectacle in a Changing World Order', the collection will be published by Routledge later this year.

He has also received an invitation to take part at an international workshop, 'More than just a game: mobilities, infrastructures & imaginaries of global sports events', to be hosted by the University of Antwerp, Belgium, in October 2015.