On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, Watford Football Club’s Community Sports and Education Trust hosted an insightful and inspiring event for prospective students: An Evening of Football Careers. The evening, hosted in The View hospitality lounge, attracted a diverse audience of over 110 people, with young people aged 15–21 years old, their parents and guardians, as well as mature students.

Informative Stalls and Pathways

Throughout the night, attendees had the chance to engage with several informational stalls. These stalls provided a wealth of material about the Trust’s further and higher education offers and highlighted current job roles within the organisation. These included post-16 programmes, offering football alongside BTECs, and/or A-Levels, delivered by the Trust in partnership with local schools and academies (Kings Langley School, Samuel Ryder Academy, Westfield Academy, and Whitmore High School); there was also the brand-new undergraduate degree in partnership with Middlesex University – BSc Football Coaching & Performance. In addition, Trust and Club partner University of Hertfordshire were also in attendance. This interactive element of the evening allowed participants to ask questions directly to staff and find out how the Trust’s programmes could begin or advance their careers in football.

The Panel: Insights from Industry Leaders

The highlight of the evening was the panel discussion, expertly hosted by Jon Marks, a familiar voice to many Watford FC fans. The panel featured four distinguished figures from Watford FC’s past, and present, each of whom brought their unique perspectives and experiences to the stage:

• Jimmy Gilligan – Watford FC Academy Head of Technical Development.
• Helen Ward – Head of Women’s Football.
• Paul Robinson – Watford FC Assistant Coach.
• Dan Gosling – Watford FC Under-21s Assistant Coach.

The panellists shared their personal journeys, detailing both the triumphs and challenges they faced throughout their careers. Their stories painted a vivid picture of the determination, adaptability, and passion required to succeed in the football world. Each speaker also offered actionable advice for attendees aspiring to carve out a future in football.

Trust Staff Share Their Stories

Later in the evening, members of the Trust took to the stage to share their own career pathways and offer guidance. This segment underlined the breadth of opportunities available within the Trust itself, from education and coaching to community outreach and development roles.

Higher Education Strategic Lead at the Trust, Laura Figg, said:

“It was great to speak to so many young people and their parents about our BSc Football Coaching & Performance degree and careers in the football industry. The event had a real buzz about it and the panel offered some really inspiring advice too. I can’t wait to do it all again!”

For more information, you can contact Laura by emailing degree@watfordfc.com or to follow the Trust for news any future events, you can search @WFCTrust on social media or explore our website.