Students at UCFB have the opportunity to learn from senior practitioners in the football business.

In our Executive Speaker Series a guest speaker visits UCFB every week to deliver a lecture to students on an area of their expertise and to answer questions.

Guest speakers include the Chief Executives of Premiership Football Clubs, the directors of major corporations, senior figures in football governing bodies and in the core related industries of finance, marketing, media and broadcasting, along with leading journalists and academics. This gives UCFB students unique and unlimited access to a global network of contacts at the top of the football business and surrounding industry.

Some of the speakers who have attended UCFB so far include:

  • Jamie Carragher – Former professional football player and Sky Sports pundit
  • Peter Salmon – Director, England at the BBC
  • Alistair Mackintosh – Chief Executive at Fulham Football Club
  • Niall Sloane – Director of Sport at ITV
  • Julie Harrington – Managing Director at St. George’s Park
  • Neil Doncaster – Chief Executive at Scottish Professional Football League
  • Rachel Brown-Finnis – Former Everton and England football player
  • Brendan Foster – Former Olympian and Vice-President at Nike Europe, and founder of the Great North Run
  • Daniel Geey – Voted one of the top UK sports lawyers in 2014
  • Steve McManaman – Former Liverpool, Real Madrid and England football player and BT Sport pundit
  • Martin Tyler – Sky Sports commentator
  • Mike Phelan – Assistant Manager at Hull City AFC and former Assistant Manager at Manchester United
  • Kelly Simmons – Director of The National Game and Women’s Football at The FA
  • Margaret Byrne – Chief Executive at Sunderland AFC
  • James Mason – Chief Operating Officer at Bradford City FC
  • Mark Lawrenson – Former professional football player and pundit at the BBC
  • Jacqui Oatley – Sports Broadcaster at the BBC
  • Alastair Campbell – Former Government Director of Communications and Strategy
  • Professor Brian Barwick – Chairman of The Rugby Football League and Former Chief Executive of The FA
  • Dharmesh Sheth – Sky Sports reporter and broadcaster
  • Heather Rabbatts – Director at VFA
  • Ian Haythornthwaite – Finance Director at the BBC
  • Lee Hoos – Chief Executive at Burnley Football Club
  • Susan Black – Director of Communications at Liverpool Football Club
  • Sean Dyche – Manager at Burnley Football Club
  • Lee Clayton – Head of Sport at the Daily Mail and MailOnline