From UCFB to Grimsby Town: Graduate reflects on career journey so far

A UCFB graduate has been talking to us about his career journey, going from graduating to gaining a career at Football League side Grimsby Town.

William Healey, who studied BA (Hons) Football Business and Finance, is now at Blundell Park as the club’s head of ticketing operations.

Just five years after graduating from UCFB Manchester, William is responsible for every aspect of the club’s ticketing operation.

From creating seating plans and managing ticket sales to working with internal departments and ensuring supporters can access matches smoothly, his role is central to the day-to-day running of the club.

“It’s an absolute plethora of everything ticketing-wise,” William said. “It can be literally from venue creation to understanding supporter demand, in-house sales and everything that comes with it. It’s about keeping the ship moving forward.”

Despite achieving such a senior role early in his career, William never expected his journey into professional football to happen so quickly. In fact, he secured his first opportunity at Grimsby Town by proactively contacting the club, despite there being no vacancy advertised.

“If you’d said to me five years ago that I’d be head of ticketing operations at a football club, I’d probably not have believed you,” he said. “It just emphasises that willingness to get into the industry. Everything you put into it, you do get out.”

For William, the greatest reward is being part of a club so deeply connected to its local community.

“I think it’s the community feel,” he said. “To literally be at the heart of an old-school football club is fantastic. Being part of the mechanism that brings supporters through the turnstiles and helps bring football to so many people around the Grimsby area is an absolute privilege.”

Although he originally planned to study chemistry, everything changed after discovering UCFB at a university open day.

“I saw Wembley on one of the prospectuses and thought, ‘Is that even possible?’ After attending an Open Day, it just felt like the right pathway.”

Looking back, William believes the experiences outside the classroom were just as valuable as his degree. Industry placements, workshops and networking opportunities gave him practical experience and a competitive edge when entering the sports industry.

Reflecting on his time at UCFB, he encourages current and prospective students to make the most of every opportunity available.

“My advice would be to engage with everything. Try commentary workshops, placements, networking events – everything. Even if you’re not sure what career you want, you’ll discover what you enjoy and what you don’t.

“Ultimately, you get out what you put in, and UCFB gives you the platform to build the career you want in sport.”

Do you want to take the first step towards your dream career in sport? Apply to UCFB through Clearing, open now, and start as early as this September.

You can also learn more about our unique sports industry-related undergraduate degree courses, ranging from sports business to media and coaching to science.