Work In Football Manchester: A breakdown

Guest Speakers & Key theme

Session 1: Breaking Into Recruitment, Scouting & Analysis

Host: James Cox – Work In Football

-        James Cox led the session on entry routes into recruitment, scouting, and analysis within the football industry.

Matt Lee – Recruitment Lead, Manchester United Women FC

-        Matt Lee highlighted the balance between data analysis and live scouting in recruitment decision-making.

Alex Dudman – First Team Performance Analyst, Manchester United FC

-        Alex Dudman discussed the importance of strong technical and analytical skills in elite performance analysis roles.

James Beet – Head of Academy Recruitment, Swansea City FC

-        James Beet emphasised the value of persistence, networking, and gaining early experience in academy recruitment.

Session 2: How to Break Into Football

Host: Sally-ann Ofori – Work In Football

-        Sally-ann Ofori opened the session by highlighting the realities of entering the football industry. She emphasised the importance of networking, gaining experience, and showing persistence when pursuing opportunities in football.

Rob Pulling – Head of Academy Sport Science & Medical, Blackburn Rovers FC

-        Rob Pulling discussed long-term player development within academy football, stressing that development should be prioritised over short-term performance outcomes.

Kyle Taylor – Academy Sport Scientist, Liverpool FC

-        Kyle Taylor highlighted the importance of practical experience, strong communication, and building trust within elite academy environments.

Session 3: The Different Pathways in Football

Host: Alfie Robinson – Work In Football

-        Alfie Robinson outlined the variety of career pathways available within football and encouraged attendees to remain open to non-linear career journeys.

Geoffrey Gulzar – Women’s Club Pathway Operations Officer, The FA

-        Geoffrey Gulzar spoke about operational roles in women’s football and highlighted the growing number of opportunities within the women’s game.

Craig Heskey – Academy Player Care Officer, Liverpool FC

-        Craig Heskey emphasised the importance of holistic player care, including education, wellbeing, and off-pitch support.

Will Moorcroft – Head of Communications, Salford City FC

-        Will Moorcroft discussed the role of communications in football, highlighting the importance of media management and clear club messaging.

Key Themes

-        Multiple Routes into Football

Speakers highlighted that there is no single pathway into the football industry, with careers often developing through varied and non-linear routes.

-        Importance of Practical Experience

Gaining hands-on experience was consistently emphasised as essential across recruitment, analysis, and academy roles.

-        Networking and Relationships

Building professional relationships and engaging with industry events were identified as key factors in accessing opportunities.

-        Holistic Player Development

Player wellbeing, education, and long-term development were highlighted as important alongside on-pitch performance.

-        Balancing Data and Football Insight

Across recruitment and analysis, speakers stressed the need to combine data-led approaches with football knowledge and live observation.

Event Experience & Observations

Estimated Audience Size

The event was attended by approximately 100–150 people, consisting mainly of students, graduates, and early-career professionals interested in working within the football industry.

Personal Experience

Overall, the event provided a valuable and engaging insight into the football industry. The sessions were well-structured and offered a balanced mix of practical advice, personal experiences, and industry knowledge from professionals working across different areas of football.

Each session also created opportunities for networking, allowing attendees to engage not only with the speakers but also with fellow students and aspiring professionals. These interactions made it possible to share ideas, experiences, and a common passion for sport, which added to the overall value of the event and helped create a strong sense of community among those in attendance.

What the Event Did Well

The event successfully brought together speakers from a wide range of roles, givingattendeesa realistic understanding of the different career pathways available. The speakers were open and honest about their career journeys, which madetheadvicefeelpracticalandrelatable.The networking opportunities also added significant value to the overall experience