Many fans grow up hoping that one day they can pull on the shirt of their favourite club and run out in front of their adoring supporters. If that doesn鈥檛 happen though, working for the club is a decent second option, right?
That鈥檚 what happened for听BA (Hons) Sports Business & Coaching听graduate Jake Hannah, who works for the foundation of his beloved Sunderland AFC. Working as a Sports Development Officer, Jake organises and delivers fun coaching sessions to youngsters of all abilities.
His sessions range from mainstream coaching to sessions for youngsters with disabilities, and can be delivered in schools, at youth camps, and most impressively at the state-of-the-art Beacon of Light 鈥 a sports and education facility located next door to Sunderland鈥檚 Stadium of Light stadium.
Jake highlights that he chose UCFB as he wanted study a university degree that offered him the chance to kick a ball, but also learn another important facet of the football industry. As one of the last students to experience UCFB Burnley before the move to UCFB Etihad Campus, his work experiences while a student at the likes of Accrington Stanley and the League Managers Association helped set him up for life after graduation.
Commenting on his role at the Foundation of Light, Jake says: 鈥淚t鈥檚 really rewarding to make a difference in the community. The kids have a wide range of abilities and ages so they鈥檙e really receptive to getting something they don鈥檛 usually get. I鈥檓 not just going in with a bag of footballs; it鈥檚 Sunderland so they get really excited about that.鈥
