Over the past few season Worcester City have created several new partnerships within the City. One of those is with the University of Worcester, with students gaining valuable experience from working within the Club.

Last season to join those already working within the Club set up, three Students Will Snoad, Jamie Smith and and Josh Sandham were given full access to film a documentary which will be screened for the first time at the Worcester Film Festival on Sunday 17th November at The Hive at 11am.

This season Eight students who study business, sport and media courses between them have been contributing to the clubs website and marketing campaigns.

Rich Widdowson, Director at the club, first approached students back in April:

“It initially started as something primarily for students studying sales and advertising degrees. We held an open morning at the University and other students turned up on the off chance there might be something they could get involved with.

All the students involved are now performing a key part in helping our football club. Match reports are added to the club website two hours after the final whistle and performance analysis is available for the team management with the help of Kyle Eaton. ”

Jack Rubery, a second year Journalism student, is now a trained ‘live’ football commentator for BBC Hereford & Worcester thanks to his link with the club:

“Initially I got involved with the club because I thought it would be good to write some match reports that would go on an official website and maybe even a newspaper. Rich let me know at the start of the season that there might be an opportunity to commentate on games. I was really interested and so went for an interview at BBC Hereford and Worcester before getting trained".

"I did my first full live match commentary for the game at Oxford City match and I loved the experience and I will be travelling up on the Team Coach on Saturday to cover the game at Harrogate Town.”

Along With Rubery, Kelly Holliday and Alexander Harris cover match reports for the club website and match day programmes.

Kim Bebbington collates match statistics, Scott Banner and Richard Badham help bring in match day sponsorship, while Kyle Eaton films games for Match Analysis and Sean Shute writes match previews.

Widdowson adds:

“The work being done has contributed to building up the clubs reputation in the city, whilst also promoting a more professional image of the club.
I am very pleased with all the students from the University and as the relationship between Worcester City FC and the University builds, I can only see our link benefitting both parties even more.”

Earlier this month the Club made a presentation as part of a Careers in Sport National Roadshow at the new Worcester University Arena. 90 Students were given an insight into the Club and how it could help them gain valuable hands on experience whilst studying for their qualifications and several have already come forward to work with the Club.

Report by Sean Shute

This story has also been covered by Worcester University