Many fans grow up hoping that one day they can pull on the shirt of their favourite club and run out in front of their adoring supporters. If that doesn’t happen though, working for the club is a decent second option, right?
That’s what happened for BA (Hons) Sports Business & Coaching graduate Jake Hannah, who works for the foundation of his beloved Sunderland AFC. Working as a Sports Development Officer, Jake organises and delivers fun coaching sessions to youngsters of all abilities.
His sessions range from mainstream coaching to sessions for youngsters with disabilities, and can be delivered in schools, at youth camps, and most impressively at the state-of-the-art Beacon of Light – a sports and education facility located next door to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light stadium.
Jake highlights that he chose UCFB as he wanted study a university degree that offered him the chance to kick a ball, but also learn another important facet of the football industry. As one of the last students to experience UCFB Burnley before the move to UCFB Etihad Campus, his work experiences while a student at the likes of Accrington Stanley and the League Managers Association helped set him up for life after graduation.
Commenting on his role at the Foundation of Light, Jake says: “It’s really rewarding to make a difference in the community. The kids have a wide range of abilities and ages so they’re really receptive to getting something they don’t usually get. I’m not just going in with a bag of footballs; it’s Sunderland so they get really excited about that.”
