Blog

Blog Categories

Most fans are well aware of who the head coach and assistant manager is at their club, but knowledge of who's who behind the scenes usually stops there. The fact is, at any professional football club, there are a large number of members of backroom staff dedicated to the successful performance of the first team. And one important role within this set-up is that of the sports massage therapist. Massage therapy plays an important role within...
For over 6 years, Susan Couper has worked as Senior Recruitment and Volunteer Manager at the Football Association (FA). A Senior Management Team member, she plays a crucial role in tournament delivery, having helped organise both the Women's Euro 2022 and the delayed Mens' Euro 2020 competitions. Previously, Couper worked in investment banking recruitment, before making the transition into sports by joining the London Olympic Organising...
For budding coaches, tacticians, scouts, analysts, and general football lovers, there are few better ways to absorb knowledge about the game than by reading. Alongside the various online resources for footy obsessives , there are tons of amazing books out there dedicated to explaining tactical trends, training set-ups, football history, and so on. That being said, it can be hard to know which ones to read, and which ones to swerve. That's...
Sports lawyer Jessie Engelhart has worked with some of the biggest organisations in football. In recent seasons, she's helped guide Strategy and Innovation at FC Barcelona and UEFA. Now, she's focusing on independent projects, having co-founded Sensato Sports Law (a boutique law firm specialising in sports-related disputes and advice), and developed a range of resources for budding football professionals - you can check out her website...
The role of data and analytics within football has grown demonstrably in recent years. Clubs like Brentford and Barnsley have been able to punch above their weight thanks to progressive data-driven recruitment and performance strategies. Meanwhile, metrics such as Expected Goals (xG) have become a key part of mainstream football parlance, regularly used on flagship shows like Match of the Day. Just ten years ago, the data used by clubs...
1) Failure to position yourself A CV is like a shop window. You are trying to encourage potential employers to take a closer look and find out what you have to offer. Think of this like a value proposition. How can you make your Football CV more appealing? Kick-off your Football CV with a profile or summary of your career highlights in three or four bullet points so they stand-out and really grab the reader's attention.  ...
Paul Barber is the CEO and Deputy Chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club . From redefining the culture at the FA, to adapting to a new culture himself in Vancouver, Paul gives a fantastic insight into his career thus far. With a huge passion for football and in driving the development of the game at all levels, this interview is a detailed and interesting account of life as a CEO in the industry.   I wanted to start...
As a self taught journalist and football writer , Mark Pitman is a perfect example of making your passion a full time and successful career. From the pitch to the press room Mark has worked for various organisations, starting off as a volunteer at Port Talbot Town FC and working his way up to the likes of the Football Association of Wales and UEFA . He speaks to us about what it takes to become a football writer and how to...
Richard Cross is the Club Secretary of Marine FC . From managing a busy workload of player administration, to implementing new Covid-safe protocols, Richard kindly took time out from his full-time job to share details of his interesting and varied role. And of course, he discusses the magic of the FA Cup !   When did you start working for Marine FC and how did that opportunity arise? I first attended a game 25 years ago...
If you've ever carried out any research on the subject of Player Care, there's a very good chance you would have come across Hugo Scheckter , and for good reason. Having looked after some of the world's best players during his time at Southampton FC and West Ham United, Hugo has established himself as one of the leading authorities in this relatively new, but increasingly important sector - after all, a happy, motivated player is...
Cathy Long has had a varied and interesting career in the football industry, with many more ideas and projects planned for the near future. Having worked at the Premier League for 15 years and providing consultancy services for a number of organisations, Cathy gives an insight into her successful career and offers her advice to those looking to pursue a role within the industry.   Were you always interested in working in football?...
Dave Messenger fulfils the role of Supporter Liaison Officer and Disability Access Officer at Watford FC. While his SLO achievements have been recognised by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) – Dave was awarded SLO of the Year in 2019 – he has kindly put his SLO ‘hat’ to one side and instead focuses on his experiences and career within Disability Access. Having worked at Watford FC since 2015 and...