UCFB Students Interview Former Scotland Manager Steve Clarke and Championship Promotion Winner Rob Edwards

UCFB students were given the opportunity to interview former Scotland manager Steve Clarke and Championship promotion-winning manager Rob Edwards during this year’s Welcome Week, gaining valuable hands-on experience alongside their studies. 

Delivered as part of UCFB’s Premier Events series in partnership with the League Managers Association (LMA), the sessions saw BA (Hons) Football Business and Media student Lacey Moon interview experienced international manager Clarke at UCFB Wembley, while BA (Hons) Multimedia Sports Journalism students Cameron Gorman and Jacob Jones sat down with former Luton Town, Middlesbrough and Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Edwards at UCFB Manchester. 

The interviews offered a unique opportunity for students to develop their skills, build their portfolios and gain insight from two experienced figures in football management. 

At UCFB Wembley, Lacey was given the chance to put her questions to Clarke and gain first-hand insight from a manager who has worked at the highest level of the game. 

Reflecting on the experience, Lacey said: “Getting the opportunity to interview Steve Clarke through UCFB was such a proud moment for me. 

“Being able to speak to someone at that level of football and gain hands on experience has been amazing. It’s experiences like this that make me even more excited about pursuing a career in football journalism and sports media.” 

At UCFB Manchester, Cameron and Jacob were tasked with interviewing Edwards, producing both long and short-form content that will be released across UCFB’s channels in the coming weeks. 

Cameron spoke about the impact the experience had on his development as an aspiring sports media professional. 

He said: “When UCFB got in contact with me regarding to interview Rob Edwards I was ecstatic, as this was not only a chance to meet our last manager from my perspective as a Wolves fan, but also a fantastic opportunity as an aspiring industry professional in sports media to help build both my skillset and portfolio with a renowned professional of the game. 

“The opportunity came about thanks to a recommendation through a lecturer, and after UCFB’s media team got in contact it was a very easy yes! 

“Rob was a wonderful person to meet and had a lot of time for us both and made us feel welcome, and to interview him for UCFB was a very special milestone for me as both a fan and a professional.” 

Jacob also reflected on the experience, describing it as a personal highlight of his time at UCFB so far. 

“Interviewing Rob Edwards was an absolute privilege and a personal highlight of my time so far at UCFB,” he revealed. 

“As a lifelong Wolves fan who grew up in the same town as Rob, it was captivating to hear stories from his illustrious career and gain an insight into his experiences in football. It was a fantastic opportunity to speak with someone whose journey in the game I have followed with such interest.” 

Providing students with opportunities to engage directly with industry leaders forms a key part of the UCFB experience. Through initiatives such as Premier Events and partnerships with organisations including the LMA, students can gain practical experience alongside their studies while building the skills, confidence and professional networks needed for careers across football, sport and media. 

The interviews with Clarke and Edwards will be released across UCFB’s digital channels over the coming weeks, with exclusive clips and extended content offering further insight into their experiences in football management, leadership and the modern game. 

For students looking to break into sports media, journalism and content creation, opportunities like these provide invaluable real-world experience long before graduation. 

Want the chance to interview industry experts, create content alongside leading figures from across football and sport, and build your professional portfolio while studying? Apply to join the UCFB Student Content Creator Programme.