Football is my life (ask my girlfriend…). From the age of 5 I remember turning up to my first training session and being immediately hooked. I have been involved as a player, coach and a referee in my time, and I currently play for two teams back in my home town of Swindon, filling up my weekends and evenings with more football.

After college, I took a year out of education to start earning some money as a pizza restaurant manager; however, my love for pizza is incomparable to my love for football. Following my impromptu gap year (where I really found myself…), I returned to education to study Sport and Social Sciences at the University of Bath. The course allowed me to understand how sport can be used as a vehicle for positive change in society, on a far greater level than I had previously comprehended. Alongside my second year studies, I was elected to be the league coordinator for the Inter-Departmental Football Competition at the University. This role allowed me to provide football to over 300 students, whilst facilitating the development of some foundation level digital marketing skills.

As part of my course, I am required to take a yearlong industrial placement between 2^nd and 3^rd year leading me to the Gloucestershire FA offices as the Marketing and Communications Officer. Hopefully I can utilise this role to encourage others to get involved in football and experience the benefits of the game as I have. It is my aim to continue building upon the great work Matt Baker has done during his placement year at the GFA, contribute to achieving the organisation’s goals whilst gaining as much as I can from the experience on a personal level.