The squad has also benefitted from access to the University’s elite support services – including sports science insights and musculoskeletal assessments to combat injury and allow safer rehabilitation – which help the players reach their full potential.

Derek Hardman, joint head coach with Craig Richards, believes the partnership has had a positive impact on players and staff.

He said: “We’re really blessed to have such a great facility on our doorstep and we’re really grateful to Edge Hill for supporting us.

“The facilities are second to none and as a group and a squad, with the nature of what we are looking for, this is perfect.”

Jodie Cunningham, club captain and head of women’s pathways and performance, praised the “fantastic” facilities available for the first-team and academy sides to utilise.

Speaking at a recent visit to the Ormskirk campus, she said: “Edge Hill have been so supportive of our women’s section and our pathway for our academy teams and under 16s, so it’s just great to get out on the field here, ready for the season ahead. 

“It’s such a good sports university and having professional teams like ourselves here just proves how good the facilities are and how passionate Edge Hill is about encouraging young girls to take part in sport.

“We’ve got girls from the team who study here so being able to see that relationship and how fantastic the University is, is brilliant.”

Edge Hill students Alyx Bridge, Caitlin Barrow, Amy Taylor and Lily Byrne are all members of the ‘Red V’ squad and are all combining rugby with their academic studies.

Back row player Alyx, who studies BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy, said: “Having access to Edge Hill’s pitches means we’ve been able to play 13-a-side and under 19s on grass pitches, even though we train at night.”

Caitlan, who is studying towards a BSc (Hons) Educational Psychology degree, said: “There is such a wide range of facilities, like the video room, so we can share opinions, see different strategies and how we can utilise each other’s skills, putting it into practice on the field.”

Half Back Amy, a PGCE Secondary Teacher Training student, added: “Edge Hill staff are all very supportive of our study and playing rugby alongside, it’s really helpful to have the University behind you.”

Edge Hill’s Department of Sport and Physical Activity provides a variety of pathways to meaningful careers in sport, from teaching in schools to coaching elite athletes, sports development to sports therapy. Academic opportunities are backed up by outstanding facilities including the Sport Centre, a 25-metre swimming pool, competition-standard athletics track, sports halls, and grass and 3G pitches, which are all available for public use.

Andrew Hampson, sports services manager, said: “We work very closely with St Helens, and it’s brilliant to see this partnership continue to grow, particularly with several Edge Hill students proudly representing the club as players.

“Having an elite women’s rugby team regularly training at our Sport Centre not only highlights the standard of our facilities but also reinforces the clear pathways available within the women’s game.

“Our Grounds Maintenance team also do an exceptional job in keeping the grass pitches at an elite level, ensuring the players train on surfaces that meet the highest performance standards.

“By bringing elite sport into Edge Hill, we hope to inspire the next generation of female athletes and demonstrate what is possible in a truly world-class sporting environment.”

If your club is looking to enhance athlete performance, reduce injury risk and explore sports science support, contact edgehillsportadmin@edgehill.ac.uk.

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The £2.5million hub, the first of its kind to be attached to a Premier League football club, adopts a “one-stop shop” approach to supporting people in Liverpool City Region.

Andy Smith, Professor of Sport, Physical Activity and Mental Health, said: “Current approaches to health and wellbeing services are unsustainable, expensive and often do not provide communities with timely, effective and accessible support to tackle stubborn health inequalities, especially around mental health. The People’s Place offers something different.”

Dr Helen O’Keeffe, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Education, added: “With Everton in the Community we developed a new approach to enable residents who don’t typically engage with mainstream health and care services to lead healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives.

“Our ‘right care, right person’ approach makes it easier for residents to find the right professional, in their community, on their terms.”

Edge Hill researchers worked with residents, schools, NHS trusts, charities and public health specialists to create much-needed community-based health programmes.

Clinical and non-clinical services are now on offer at the hub, including community groups, GPs, mental health nurses and counsellors, dementia and diabetes clinics and health screening, in collaboration with regional NHS health providers and the third sector.

Tackling the Blues, a multi-award-winning sport and arts-based mental health and wellbeing programme for children and young people, run in partnership by Edge Hill, EitC and Tate Liverpool, is one of the programmes being delivered from the hub.

The development of The People’s Place in supporting people in areas including bereavement, psychological crisis, Parkinson’s disease and food poverty is recognised with the Educate North Award win in the Community Engagement – University Sector category.

Professor Smith and Dr O’Keeffe said: “We are thrilled that the impact of our collaborative work on The People’s Place, as part of our 11-year partnership with Everton in the Community, has been commended by Educate North.

“This award win confirms how authentic, meaningful and sustained community involvement in research can positively engage those local communities who need health and care services the most.”

Jon Jones, Director of Adult Services at Everton in the Community, added: “We are committed to delivering innovative mental health and wellbeing support for the community, and ensuring that it is co-produced with, and meets the need of, those who access it.

“This award win is testament to our successful partnership with Edge Hill University to tackle mental health inequalities, underpinned by research.”

Find out more about how Edge Hill University’s expanding body of research is addressing some of society’s most pressing problems, including the current mental health crisis.

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Informed by people with lived experience of mental health and illness, the work of CMSPR will:

• shape the design, delivery and evaluation of mental health programmes;
• work with local, national and international partners;
• deliver knowledge exchange activities in sectors including education, public health, medicine, the creative industries, business and information technology.

Professor Andy Smith, director of the new research centre, is encouraging members of the public, students and partners to “come along on this journey with us” by helping to shape the Centre’s research priorities and take part in activities.

“We all understand now more than ever the importance of looking after our mental health and we are determined to contribute to this global challenge in a meaningful way.

“We’re keen to hear from anyone who wants to engage with us to improve mental health through our research and external activities, so they have a real positive and sustainable impact on people’s lives and policy-making.”

Professor Andy Smith, Director of the Centre for Mental Health, Sport and Physical Activity Research

Edge Hill launched the CMSPR with the support of high-profile partners Mind, Movember, Rugby League Cares, Together an Active Future, Creative Football and academic partner Everton in the Community, the official charity of Everton Football Club.

Hayley Jarvis, head of physical activity for Mind mental health charity, commended the Centre for appreciating the value of “experts by experience”.

“Our vision is for sport and physical activity to help build resilience, enable mental health recovery and tackle stigma so we are thrilled to be part of Edge Hill’s new research centre. It provides an anchor point for all of us working in this space, to digest the research and develop effective activities, communications and resources.

“We already have ideas for joint events and activities, and hope to bring those ideas to fruition for the benefit of those who need it most. We’ve come a long way in the journey to embed good mental health in the sport world and I believe the launch of the Centre is the next exciting step.”

Hayley Jarvis, Mind’s head of physical activity

As a cross-institutional Centre, the CMSPR brings together academic researchers, industry professionals, organisations, policy makers and members of the public to improve mental health and wellbeing in the community and at a professional level.

Professor Smith said: “We believe the Centre, which builds on more than 10 years of interdisciplinary research at Edge Hill, will bring about real change in how we can improve mental health through sport, physical activity and other activities.

“The focus is about how we can all work together to improve mental health, locally, nationally and internationally.”

Professor George Talbot, Pro-Vice Chancellor with responsibility for research, added:

“Our team of internationally-respected researchers are drawing on their broad range of expertise and the University’s long history of working with local, national and international bodies to improve provision in practical ways, for example by providing professional development and training for those working in mental health.”

Long-term partner Michael Salla, Deputy CEO at Everton in the Community, said:

“We’re delighted to build on our 11-year partnership with Edge Hill University by supporting the development of this new research centre.

“Collaboration with likeminded organisations is key in our mission to improve the mental health of our communities by further using sport, physical activity and movement in innovative ways.”

Edge Hill’s Department of Sport and Physical Activity provides a variety of undergraduate courses including sports science, management, coaching, education and therapy, endorsed by professional bodies like CIMSPA and BASES, and postgraduate opportunities such as the new MSc Sport, Physical Activity and Mental Health. Research areas include policy, performance, practice and health and wellbeing.

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The third years, who got the chance to meet sporting legends like Olympian Sir Chris Hoy MBE, were honoured to support the cause and valued the opportunity to put their therapy skills into practice with professional athletes. 

Zoe Thomas, BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy student, jumped at the chance to take part. 

“Not only is sports therapy a huge passion of mine, MND is very close to my heart as a much-loved family friend I have known since I was little has been living with this condition for many years.

“This event broadened my knowledge of sports therapy and enabled me to get involved in a great cause. 

Rugby legend Rob Wainwright led the 350-strong team of cyclists along a gruelling 555 miles from Cardiff’s Principality Stadium to the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. They handed the match ball over to The MND Association’s Royal Patron HRH Princess Anne and the Scottish and Welsh teams before the Six Nations game on Saturday. 

Zoe and her classmates met the cyclists during a pit stop at Orrell Rugby Club and provided soft tissue massage to help them along their 48-hour challenge.  

Fellow student Abby Coleman, BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy, said:

“This incredible experience gave me the chance to gain experience in a real-world sport setting. With the support of my colleagues, I was given a platform to thrive and learn while adding fuel to my passion for helping others. 

“Seeing the impact my interaction with each rider had on them has made my confidence soar while also providing me with experience I can use to demonstrate my skills as I pursue my career.” 

Professor of Sport and Physical Activity Andy Smith was able to offer students this opportunity thanks to the connections he has built up within the sporting community during his time at Edge Hill. 

Lynsey Wilson, senior lecturer in Sports Therapy, added:

“Students and staff are delighted to have been given this excellent opportunity to work with and support the Doddie Weir charity and their ongoing fight to raise money and awareness for motor neurone disease.  

“Our students have been given an invaluable opportunity to apply their practical skills, enhance their ability to communicate with a variety of patients and undertake work-based learning at a professional sporting event while raising money for a worthwhile cause. It has been exciting and rewarding for all of us.” 

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Real World Experience

Real world experience and employability are instrumental in everything we do here in the Department of Sport and Physical Activity. We work hard to ensure that all our students graduate with the key skills, knowledge and experience needed to achieve their career goals.

Throughout your degree, you’ll get opportunities to test yourself in research projects and work placements – last year, we had over 300 placements available in a range of settings, including national sports teams, local clubs, schools, and community sport and health organisations.

Your interests and career aspirations are an important factor when it comes to finding the right match for a work placement, and staff in the Department work closely with our Careers team to ensure students have access to fantastic placement opportunities. This collaborative team works hard behind the scenes, developing contacts and liaising with organisations to arrange placements for our students.

We had a chat with some of our colleagues involved in student placements, to find out more about the different type of opportunities available and what students enjoy most about their placements.

Cam Osborne completed his work placement with Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club.

What did your placement involve?
I was a digital communications intern, responsible for social media and helping expand the digital marketing presence of the club’s Community Foundation. This involved attending a lot of really fun events.

How did you hear about the opportunity?
My personal tutor and I sat down and discussed what kind of placement I was looking for and what I wanted to get out of it. He then helped me on my search, and we found the advert for the placement at Wigan Warriors.

What was your most memorable moment at Wigan Warriors?
I helped out at a half-term training camp, where I got to meet a lot of the players and even interview a few of them! I also got to meet all the senior staff – everyone was really welcoming and I learnt a lot speaking to them about how they ran their organisation. By the end of those first 2 days, I felt like I was really part of the team.

Ollie Wakefield completed his work placement with Merseyside Sports Partnership (MSP).

What did your placement involve?
After some initial work shadowing, I started to assist my supervisor with her day to day tasks. One of my main tasks was ensuring that all of MSP’s activities with their partner schools were being entered accurately into the database. I was also asked to conduct research to find out how local schools were choosing to spend their PE and school sport premium, identifying potential areas of expansion for MSP.

What are the top 3 skills you developed during your placement?
• Communication
• Using my initiative
• Not being afraid to ask questions!

What are your career aspirations?
My experience at MSP has confirmed that I would like to work in the sport development sector and try to improve societal concerns through the use of sport and physical activity. The placement gave me first hand experience of the difference this type of work can make, which I found really encouraging.

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Sport internships

Thanks to Edge Hill’s Student Opportunity Fund, and the dedication of staff in the Department of Sport and Physical Activity, 4 students recently undertook work placements to build their experience and boost their employability. Real-world experience is at the core of the Department, and no matter what course you study, you’ll be sure to have opportunities to build your skills, confidence and professional network. Senior Lecturer Dr Greg Doncaster was instrumental in setting up the career-enhancing internships for students, and tells us why it’s so important for students to get involved with work experience throughout their degree.

“Funding from the Student Opportunity Fund allowed us to bring our plans of offering a suite of employability activities for students to life. The first thing we did was run a virtual careers event, with a range of employers giving talks about the opportunities they have on offer and how students and graduates can get involved. This gave students a lot to think about and opened their eyes to the type of organisations they might like to work for. Following on from this, four organisations agreed to offer work placement opportunities to second or third year students. We wanted to give our students a realistic experience of recruitment, so we devised a competitive application and interview process, inviting them to showcase their skills with examples when applying for the internships. From this, we selected four students to partake in the internships, and at the end of their internships they presented to a  panel of tutors and employers to reflect on their experiences.”

Dr Greg Doncaster

Our 4 student interns tell us all about their experience, and the huge benefits from having taken part in the opportunity.

Final year student Sophie Warden completed her internship with Rugby League Cares, helping to organise and launch a brand new charity initiative called Beyond the Sidelines. She was, and continues to be, instrumental in designing and delivering focus group style workshops with the partners and families of professional rugby players, to find out about their experiences of supporting their athlete partners through difficult times. Sophie’s research showed a clear need for mental health and wellbeing support for both athletes and their families, to ensure that families have the help they need to support the players through tough times.

This was an incredibly rewarding opportunity for me to be a part of, and gathering feedback and evidence to support the launch of the charity was so interesting. Talking one to one with people about how we could help them, and knowing that my research was going to make a difference, was a great feeling. Working on the launch of Beyond the Sidelines gave me the opportunity to build on professional skills including public speaking, analytical skills, confidence, and how to balance competing priorities. I developed a much greater ‘sense of self’ during this internship, and built professional contacts that will serve me in my graduate career. I’m staying at Edge Hill to complete a Masters next year, but this internship has shown me how much I enjoy research, and now I have experience of that in a practical setting – giving me loads to think about for my career plans.”

Sophie has gone on to achieve success in applying for MSc Sport, Physical Activity and Mental Health here at Edge Hill, putting her experience and skills to good use in her application. She has a word of advice for new Edge Hill students who may be considering applying for internships like hers.

“Don’t let feelings of nerves put you off from applying. Apply anyway. If it’s meant to be, it will be. Being a little bit nervous isn’t a good enough reason not to push yourself and go for it – you will only get out of an opportunity what you put in.”

Second year student Saffron Quinlan completed her internship with Everton in the Community (EitC), providing activities and support for the residents of care homes around Goodison Park’s ‘blue mile’. Care home residents suffered immensely during the COVID-19 lockdowns, as their usual activities were halted and residents weren’t allowed close contact with others. Saffron spent her time interviewing residents and creating new and innovative ideas to support them, both virtually and in person.

I knew that it must have been really hard for care home residents during lockdown, but having interviewed them first-hand as part of my internship, it really hit home how isolating and lonely it had been for them. They really look forward to their EitC activities and get to know the volunteers on a personal level, so it was important that we continued to deliver remotely as much as possible. Once the lockdown was lifted, I organised a suite of activities for residents, including a sit-down cheerleading class to help their wellbeing and get them moving. I also arranged a doorstep music performance for the shielding residents who weren’t able to have any visitors, and this really brightened their day. Other activities that I ran included crafting pride flags for pride month, and a virtual bingo session. I loved the whole experience and found it so rewarding, and I was able to report back to EitC with recommendations of new activities to take forward with the residents.”

Taking part in this internship was a huge achievement for Saffron, who previously struggled with her confidence, and she’s been able to reflect on the wealth of skills she has gained.

There are so many transferable skills I built during my internship. Using my initiative, organisation, planning, communication, leadership… The most important one for me was confidence. It was the main thing I wanted to get out of it, and I definitely did. I feel like this opportunity will open many doors for me, because I have real-world experience of putting these skills into practice. I’ve also learned from the experience that I definitely want a career in a community-based role. Helping people and making a difference is what drives me, and now that I’ve got contacts at EitC, I plan to stay involved with them throughout my degree.“

My advice to other students would be to get involved as early as possible with the opportunities available to you, and try to make the most of your summer before coming to University, to build your confidence a little. It will help you so much.”

Second year student Lucy Mills completed her internship across two organisations, working with West Lancashire Sports Partnership to produce materials for teachers, parents and children, as well as working with an App called ‘MiMove’ that aims to track physical activity and how the user feels during their activity. Working across two different organisations meant that Lucy was really able to put her time management and organisation skills to the test, and she was able to create links between the two organisations by the end of the internship – something she can be really proud of.

“Taking part in this internship has enhanced my employability and I feel much more confident about applying for graduate jobs when the time comes. I’ve gained experience in lots of areas, including IT and design skills, critical thinking, and research. All of these skills are desirable no matter what job I decide to do, and now I have interesting examples of using them in the real world to help me stand out from the crowd. I got a lot of recognition for linking the two organisations together to see how they can work together going forward. It’s only a start, but to say in a job application or PGCE interview that I have worked with 2 big partners in a sports setting will certainly show that I have the ability to liaise, progress and develop new ideas in the physical activity industry.

My advice to students thinking of taking on a Sport internship, I would say go for it. Placements and internships can really give you an insight of what working in the sports sector is like, and you’ll build on skills that provide you with so much confidence when applying for jobs. It’s important to stand out – and don’t be afraid to ask the department about possible opportunities, as it all contributes towards making yourself a better person.”

Final year student Emma Clausen completed her internship with Wigan Athletic Football Club, where she focused on creating a GPS database that would provide visual reports to inform future practice at the club.

“The internship with Wigan Athletic caught my eye when it was advertised on our department’s employability page – and my Personal Tutor also encouraged me to apply. I completed the application, and then took part in an interview, like I would do for a real graduate job, so this was a good practice run for me. I was successful and was offered the internship. The internship itself involved carrying out a literature review and putting forward my recommendations on the best approaches. I also got involved at a more practical level, collecting GPS data from players during pre-season activities.
The thing I loved most about doing this internship is that it allowed me to link the theoretical knowledge from my degree to real-world situations. I’ve built my technical skills in Excel and PowerBi, and key skills including communication and confidence. Applied sport is a competitive job market, and I am so grateful to now have this experience to talk about on my CV and at interviews. I’ve built connections with coaches at the club, and this has led to the offer of another internship working with their Under-18 squad next year – I’m really excited about that”

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At Edge Hill University, staff members from across the institution have built strong working partnerships that we are really proud of. Relationships with employers and industry professionals allow us to offer unique, real-world experiences for our students – as well as sharing best practice and knowledge from an academic perspective. In our Department of Sport and Physical Activity, teaching staff have built up positive, long-lasting relationships with leading sports organisations and clubs.

We are particularly proud to tell you about our 14-year working relationship with Wigan Athletic Football Club, which has resulted in some fantastic opportunities for students, graduates and the club itself. Dr Mark Partington, Senior Lecturer in Sports Coaching, has been instrumental in working with Wigan Athletic FC over the years to support the Academy with research that informs their day-to-day working practices.

This successful partnership has resulted in a range of opportunities for students across the Sport and Physical Activity department. Our students have undertaken work placements and summer internships in a variety of roles at the club, and have had a fantastic experience. BSc (Hons) Sports Science student Emma Clausen tells us all about her recently completed internship with the club, and how it has boosted her employability and confidence.

“The internship with Wigan Athletic caught my eye when it was advertised on our department’s Employability page – and my Personal Tutor also encouraged me to apply. I completed, and then took part in an interview, like I would do for a real graduate job, so this was a good practice run for me. I was successful and was offered the internship.

The internship at Wigan Athletic focused on creating a GPS database that would provide visual reports to inform future practice at the club. This involved carrying out a literature review, and putting forward my recommendations on the best approaches. I also got involved at a more practical level, collecting GPS data from players during pre-season activities.

knowledge from my degree to real-world situations. I’ve built my technical skills in Excel and PowerBi, and key skills including communication and confidence. Applied sport is a competitive job market, and I am so grateful to now have this experience to talk about on my CV and at interviews. I’ve built connections with coaches at the club, and this has led to the offer of another internship working with their Under-18 squad next year – I’m really excited about that”

Emma Clausen, final year student.

Those who are thinking about studying on one of our Sport and Physical Activity programmes will have plenty of opportunities to get involved with clubs like Wigan Athletic – whether you are interested in coaching, performance analysis, strength and conditioning, wellbeing or sports therapy support for players.

Another great success born out of our partnership work with Wigan Athletic FC is that a number of Edge Hill alumni now work full-time for Wigan Athletic Football Club’s Academy. Their graduate roles include Coach, Strength and Conditioning, Sports Therapist and Performance Analyst. Two of our alumni, Rik and Kieran, tell us all about their roles at Wigan Athletic and how their degree set them up for success.

Rik Southworth graduated from Edge Hill in 2016, having studied a degree in Sports Coaching and Development. He is currently the Youth Development Phase Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Academy at Wigan Athletic FC. Rik tells us about his involvement with the club during his studies, and how this helped set him up for success.

“I really wanted to gain specific knowledge and experience in strength and conditioning, so one of my lecturers encouraged me to get involved with the Academy at Wigan Athletic.

This experience taught me so many transferable skills that are crucial in elite sport settings – communication, time management, and an understanding of the micro-political elements of working in such a high-pressure environment. My academic development came on leaps and bounds too, as I learned specialist knowledge about GPS monitoring systems and how to coach elite athletes in areas like sprint mechanics, change of direction and Olympic weightlifting. I felt so welcomed by the team at Wigan Athletic, and really enjoyed my time as an intern there. So much so, that I was encouraged to apply for a permanent graduate role there when I finished my degree – and I was accepted.”

Rik Southworth, Edge Hill graduate.

Rik has some words of advice and encouragement for our current students, as well as those thinking of studying here at Edge Hill.

“The experience you will gain from working with an Academy such as Wigan Athletic is invaluable. Learning from elite coaches can help you to bridge the gap between theory and practice, and clubs always look for real-world experience for their graduate roles. Wigan Athletic treat all student interns with respect, and provide all the support they need to grow during their experience. If you have the opportunity to get involved – take it”

Kieran Driscoll is another Edge Hill alumnus who has found success in his graduate career with Wigan Athletic Football Club. Having taken the initiative to volunteer with a local football club to build up some experience, Kieran’s potential was recognised by his tutors and Mark Partington encouraged him to apply for a part-time coaching role with Wigan Athletic alongside his studies.

“Getting involved with Wigan Athletic during my degree gave me fantastic experience in how to plan, deliver and evaluate coaching sessions with elite young footballers. Having this experience on my CV when I graduated really helped me to stand out when applying for roles, and luckily I’ve been able to stay at Wigan and progress to the role of Lead Coach for under-18s. My biggest achievement so far is seeing the team I coached win the Professional Development League in 2021.

The top 3 skills I gained from my experience with Wigan Athletic FC during my degree were communication, organisation and self-confidence. I’m now in a role I love, providing the best education for young aspiring footballers looking to progress in their professional career.”

Kieran Driscoll, Edge Hill graduate

Kieran has some words of advice to offer current and soon-to-be students on how to make the best of the opportunities available to you, and why you should get involved with academies like Wigan.

“There has never been a better time to be involved with academy football and there are more opportunities than ever before. Any students who aspire to work within the football industry will gain so much from getting involved with Wigan Athletic. You’ll work alongside excellent staff in a positive and creative environment, and my biggest piece of advice to anyone who takes the opportunity would be to give your best to the experience and show the highest levels of commitment and application you can.”

The success of this working relationship continues to benefit Edge Hill students, staff, and staff at Wigan Athletic FC, and we are looking forward to continuing our working partnership and celebrating achievements together.

“As an academic in sport coaching, it’s important for me to continue coaching on a practical level. My continued involvement as a part-time coach in the Youth Development Phase at Wigan Athletic, alongside my teaching role at Edge Hill, allows me to find this balance perfectly.

Wigan Athletic Football Club have been excellent in helping Edge Hill to provide a number of opportunities for our Sport and Physical Activity students to build experience in a professional football club on their work placement module.”

Dr Mark Partington

“The partnership we have with Edge Hill University, facilitated by Dr Mark Partington, has been excellent over my 8 years as Academy Manager. Edge Hill students who work with us on their placements are a great support to our staff, and they are always very positive to take the opportunity for hands on experience. Watching their confidence and skills grow whilst they learn on the job is rewarding for our staff, and the students have a big impact in the areas they work on as well.

As well as this, the research and expertise that Mark has in sport coaching really helps us underpin our working practice, and by sharing his knowledge and best practice with us, it allows us to keep up to date with the academic developments in the sector.

Wigan Athletic Football Club are looking forward to continuing our working relationship with Edge Hill University for years to come.”

Gregor Rioch, Academy Manager at Wigan Athletic Football Club.

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