UCFB News

Guillem Balague must be the busiest man in football. Best known as the face of Sky Sports’ Spanish football coverage, the Catalan is also an international journalist, author, UEFA licenced coach, charity worker… and director of football.

Balague joined UCFB partner Biggleswade United in 2014 with the aim of developing the club’s fortunes on and off the pitch. Plying their trade in the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands Football League, Balague’s presence has certainly gained the club more coverage...

When he retired from playing in 2013, many expected Jamie Carragher to go into coaching and find himself in the Anfield dugout not long after. So it was met with some surprise when it was announced he was going to be following one-time playing rival Gary Neville into the TV studio at Sky Sports.

The former Liverpool and England defender, however, has gone on to become one of the most popular and respected pundits on television. His strong opinions, deep knowledge...

By Riegan Thompson

England manager Gareth Southgate has a clear message for UCFB students working towards a career in the football and sports industry – be prepared to work hard.

“You’re not in an industry that is 9-5, Monday to Friday,” he said. “So you’re going to have to be in for long unsociable hours.”

Southgate was speaking to UCFB Wembley students as part of the Executive Guest Speaker Series. In a wide ranging talk covering his playing and coaching career, the former...

By Riegan Thompson

Football is a global industry that provides jobs on and off the field. Players nearing the end of their careers are faced with the difficult task of what to do once they retire. Many decide to venture into management or coaching, but with the explosion of television coverage many former pros now take up roles in the media.

Jamie Carragher is one of England’s most successful players. A rare one club man, ‘Carra’ won 11 major honours in...

The world’s best athletes will descend on London this summer for the world para and athletic championships.

The Olympic Stadium in east London will be the venue once again, five years on from the unforgettable 2012 Olympic Games.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators will flock to the stadium to see the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt one final time before he retires, as well as get behind British favourites Sir Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford.

Tickets for London 2017 launched last year, with...

England manager Gareth Southgate has called on football to embrace the use of psychologists in the same way as other major sports.

In an exclusive interview with UCFB, Southgate said individual sports especially had defined the role of psychology in their game in a way that football still hasn’t, and that having the right mentality at the highest level makes the ultimate difference to performance.

The Three Lions boss said: “I’ve used and worked with sport psychologists as a player and as...

Asked what he thought about the role of a director of football when he was QPR boss, Harry Redknapp famously said: “It’s a joke, really, that you are expected to work with someone else’s players.”

Largely unfancied in English football but now increasingly common, the role is a vital component in player recruitment, which spans from unearthing youth with an eye on the future, to finding players ready for the first team.

It’s not just managers that have regular dealings with a...

Gareth Southgate was at UCFB Wembley this week to speak to students about his career and pass on key advice to aspiring football and sport professionals.

Around 500 students gathered to hear from the England manager as he told tales from his playing and managerial career, advised students on how to deal with adversity at the highest level and revealed why England fans should be excited about the future.

The hour long talk at Wembley Stadium was part of the unique UCFB...

From the pitch to the stands football is a passionate sport that finds a way to get under the skin of thousands of people every weekend.

That passion is equally as important when working within the football industry and is a major factor when hiring for one former Premier League heavyweight.

David Dein spent over 20 years as vice-chairman at Arsenal and was the man responsible for hiring Arsene Wenger and the club’s success around the turn of the century. Since leaving...

UCFB is delighted to announce that England manager Gareth Southgate will be talking to UCFB Wembley students next week as part of the Executive Guest Speaker Series.

Southgate, also a former Premier League and England player, will appear at UCFB Wembley on Tuesday 4th April.

Gareth Southgate

UCFB Wembley will welcome Southgate fresh from England’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Lithuania, with the Three Lions top of Group F and looking good for a place at next year’s tournament in Russia.

Southgate took...