Gareth Stobart

I studied for a BA (Hons) Sports Management and Football studies course, from which I graduated in 2013. I had an ambition of being a football coach full time. After graduating I coached football in the USA for nearly 2 years in and around the Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC areas. After working in the USA, I worked part time for Royal Mail and Brighton and Hove Albion foundation whilst also managing an under 18s team in the Southern Combination football league.

Doing these roles solidly for a few years I decided to attend UCFB to complete an MSc in Football Coaching and Analysis. Post-graduating I secured a full-time role with Brighton and Hove Albion from which I then moved over to UCFB to work as a Regional Recruitment Manager. This was because I could see the route that works for people to get into the sports industry and wanted to help younger people do the same. I am now still working part time with Brighton and Hove Albion foundation and am assistant manager for the Worthing Women’s team in tier 4.

Football is my main passion and sport I coach and play. If there is a game on TV and I am at home, then it will be on the TV. I will watch all kinds of sports though and picked up an interest in NFL from my time in the USA.

I will pick a top 3 sporting moments in no particular order. Chelsea winning the Champions League final in 2012, especially Drogba’s header to equalise. England Women winning the Euros, I was lucky enough to go to Wembley to watch the game! And finally, Usain Bolt winning the 100m and beating the world record in 2008.

The sports industry is open to all. There should be no barrier to participate in any fashion and the sports industry is ever improving and new people in the industry have the power to keep that going. Working in a sport you love will always make it less of work and more of a vocation.

I am based at our Wembley Campus when on site, but I work with education organisations in London, South East, and the South West.