Where Are They Now: Bradleigh Cregeen – Partnerships Manager at Wigan Athletic

Graduate Bradleigh Cregeen is now using his UCFB degree to thrive in his career as partnerships manager at a Football League side.

Bradleigh, who works as partnerships manager at Wigan Athletic, studied BA (Hons) International Football Business at UCFB.

“My role covers all commercial partnerships,” he said. “That’s everything from selling the partnerships and bringing partners in, having meetings and sharing the opportunities we have at the club.

“Once they’re on board as a partner, then my role consists of making sure those accounts are activated as well. That’s everything from our small local business partners all the way up to our bigger principal partners and shirt sponsors.”

Bradleigh went on to speak about why he loves working in the football industry at Wigan Athletic.

“Working in football is very unique,” he said. “I don’t think it’s like other industries.

“I think just the experience of working on a matchday and being involved in the buzz around that, and particularly when it’s going well on the pitch.”

He added: “In my first season, we won League One and being part of that experience was amazing, all the way up to that final day. Celebrating with the team on the pitch, it was a pretty special moment for my first season at the club.”

Reflecting on his time as a UCFB student, Bradleigh said: “The whole UCFB model worked really well preparing me for the football industry, the way it’s split up between a few days of lectures and freeing up time for placements.

“The contacts UCFB have in the industry to get the placements are really good, and ultimately it’s that which helped me get this role.”

Wigan Athletic is one of the many clubs across the Premier League and Football League where multiple UCFB graduates are employed. Find out more about a handful of the people who went from studying at UCFB to working at The Latics.

“When we’re recruiting for roles,” Bradleigh said, “we see quite a lot of UCFB graduates applying and ultimately getting jobs here, because it is a well-respected degree.

“I think it’s good to see, and now, four out of the five of the commercial team are now UCFB graduates. I think it’s obviously showing that it does work.”

Learn more about the numerous places across football and sport where UCFB graduates have gone on to score their career goals.