Charlie Wilson

I first knew I wanted to apply to the football studies course at Solent when speaking to several people at Oxford United who had studied the course, while I was there on work experience. Given that I was enamoured with the environment, and some of the people I was working with had taken the football studies path, it felt like a perfect fit. So much so that it was my only university application.

Having hopefully gained a strong degree, I am looking to begin my career in football at the Oxford United academy, whether in an analyst role or working in one of the other departments, such as academy recruitment or player welfare. In the long term, I would love to have a role within the FA that can aid the development of the game in this country as a whole. On the flip side, working in football’s developing nations – such as India or the USA – would also be of great interest.

I would say the main benefit of the degree is the exposure to, and exploration of, elements of the game which many, including me, had not considered. I found this humbling and it has encouraged me to become an even more avid student of the game. The range of academic resources directly surrounding football has also been a huge eye-opener as well, and being pointed in the direction of many of them has been a highlight.