UCFB Future Sport 2018

GUILLEM BALAGUE
UCFB partners with… Biggleswade United
Students learning the ropes in the non-league
Fast becoming one of the most recognisable names in non-league football, Biggleswade United have been helped
along the way by UCFB students. From media duties to sponsorship activity, no job is too big or too small…
The last decade has seen major developments at
Biggleswade United on and off the pitch.
A burgeoning youth set up, ambitious stadium
expansion and national attention thanks to a well-known
face in the boardroom.
Like any business though, growth means more work
and ultimately more staff. However, like many clubs with
non-league status, finances don’t stretch to a colossal work
force, and many rely on a dedicated band of volunteers.
Biggleswade do it differently though. With grand desires
to make their way up the football pyramid, the club wanted
individuals with ambition, knowledge and experience of the
game. The club knew approaching UCFB would give them
a whole network of individuals with such qualities.
“The non-league game typically struggles to bring
in talent to drive clubs forward due to the lack of
resources,” says club chairman Chris Lewis. “But UCFB
has been essential in helping us bridge that problem.”
He added: “It’s been fantastic working with UCFB as it
has provided us with access to the brightest young talent
who are keen to make a career in the football industry.”
Two students spent the 2016/17 season working with
the club in all aspects of its operation which not only
helped with the running of the club, but also meant
major career development for them too.
For Josh Brian and Elliot Brown, working at the club
has been of huge benefit.
“My experience at Biggleswade has been invaluable,”
Josh said. “Firstly, because of the hands on work I have
been doing, and secondly the experience has meant
I’ve met some fantastic people who could be potential
contacts for my future.”
After arriving at the club, the pair saw their duties increase
from greeting the teams and fans, to eventually maintaining
the club’s social media channels on a match day and
putting together financial projections for the club’s budget.
Elliot said: “This club is a very interesting place to work
because of their unique set-up and philosophy, compared
to the average non-league outfit. Biggleswade place such
a heavy emphasis financially and pay a substantial amount
of attention to the quality of coaching at the club and the
development of academy sides.”
The club’s director of football, Sky Sports’ Guillem
Balague, said that as long as students remain ambitious
and inquisitive he and the rest of the club will do all they
can to help them succeed. He added: “At Biggleswade
if we see youth with an interest and a commitment and
you see that there is a passion for being the best they
can be, then no doubt about it, we will help them.”
Elliot Brown studies BA (Hons) Football Business &
Finance, and Josh Brian studies BA (Hons) Football
Business & Media at UCFB Wembley.
“UCFB HAS PROVIDED
US ACCESS TO THE
BRIGHTEST YOUNG
TALENT”
Chris Lewis
Biggleswade United chairman
Engage: The Catalan passes on advice to UCFB students
What are your impressions of UCFB?
I believe that this institution is going the right way
and is giving opportunities to people that previously
weren’t there. UCFB benefit from the fact that a lot
of people see football and sport as a career, not just
something that you practice. There are people who
think that sport, and football in particular, is a paradise,
but it would be wrong to come into a place like UCFB
thinking that. It’s all about hard work, understanding
yourself, developing relationships and about thinking
that there is a long term objective.
Tomorrow’s talent, today | 35