Straight after graduating from UCFB’s BA (Hons) Football Business & Media programme, Jatin Guntupalli landed a role in the in-demand, and greatly adored EFL. Here, the UCFB Wembley graduate shares what he gets up to in the role and why his course gave him so much more than just a degree certificate…

Tell us about your role at Dulwich Hamlet FC and what it involves.

I’m currently the Assistant Club Secretary and the Team Secretary for both our First and Reserve Women side. The first part of my role involves assisting the Club Secretary in all administrative matters of the club from registration of players to ensuring the club complies with league and FA rules.

This is like my role with the Women's side but this also contains additional roles of dealing with team sheets and pitch bookings for the reserves. I also assist the General Manager in ad hoc roles whenever needed.

What have been some of your highlights at the club so far?

The biggest so far would probably be our historic game involving Truk United and our women side. It was the first game in history which involved a team full of transgender people which is a huge stepping stone within football into achieving true equality for all. The day itself was amazing and it further confirmed that I made a great choice in joining Dulwich in the next steps of my career.

What have you brought into the role from your BA (Hons) Football Business & Media programme?

I would say it would have to be the different theories and concepts between both sides of the degree. Implementing ideas I learnt from lectures or even from my assignment research, it’s given me just a foundation of knowledge that I use on a regular occurrence to support the club. Plus, it’s been great to use my network of contacts to get advice and assistance from.

During your degree, you worked in a similar role at Hendon FC. How important do you think this experience was in securing your current job?

I could safely say I wouldn’t be anywhere near I am without Hendon and that experience. Being a board member, assistant secretary and various other others gave me not only brilliant career development, but I learnt a lot about myself in the process and it gave me a clear idea of what career I want in football and how I was going to achieve that.

You get first-hand experience into the issues that happen on a regular basis and gain invaluable experience from those situations. It is an immense pressure to deal with but it further develops my own skills brilliantly.

How did you find your time at UCFB?

Most of my uni time was at home whilst the pandemic was ongoing which did slightly hinder the full uni experience but outside that it was a great time. Being so close to London but also in a great place to travel outwards helped a lot when trying new things.

Wembley has become a nice area to be around. Also, studying in Wembley is amazing for any sports fan. It’s the most iconic sports venue in the country and probably the world. Being able to look out onto the pitch during a lecture or seminar is a very surreal feeling and something I will miss tremendously when I graduate.

Why do you love football?

I could speak on this forever until I’m blue in the face. But one point I really like is the unification. It was a unified approach to doing things and we were all in it together. From the Chairman to the volunteer staff and fans, we all have a part to play in making things work and winning games!

Plus, the memories you create are so special, I look back and cherish all those moments with people I work and socialise with. Whether we lose or win, the club and everyone involved are in this together forever.

What advice would you pass on to anyone looking at studying at UCFB?

Experience is key! The knowledge you learn at UCFB is brilliant, but this needs to be applied in practise. JobTeaser contains so many brilliant roles available that can assist your development. At the start you may think three years is a very long time and you can always do it later, but very quickly time will pass. Take every advantage of things that are being offered.

Finally, enjoy yourself! You will be surrounded by people where you all have at least one thing in common; the love of sports! Spend time getting to know everyone you can, you never know how beneficial this can be in the future.

Any UCFB students interested in working at the club should email media@dulwichhamletfc.co.uk to find out more.