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Sports students finding success Stateside

Sports students finding success Stateside

Wembley and the United States beckon for Andover College Sports students keen to pursue their talents and studies to the next level. Gemma Dunn’s footballing prowess secured a full scholarship ($38,000 per year) to study at the University of Kansas and Jordan Mumford has chosen Wembley, the official home of the national stadium, to study a BA (Hons) Football Business and Marketing at University College of Football Business.

Ron Bertie, Andover College Head Academy Football Coach said: “Jordan and Gemma are great examples of the numerous opportunities open to sports students looking to take their studies further. Gemma is a gifted footballer and through our network of industry contacts she was put in front of, and received offers from a number of American colleges where she will continue with her studies while playing football to a very high standard. Jordan was also keen to taken his sporting diploma further and has decided that he is going to focus on the business side of football.”

Both Gemma and Jordan studied the BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport at Andover College. This two year course covers all aspects of sport from coaching to psychology with students often progressing to a number of sports related degrees including Sports Science, Sports Journalism and Sports Development.

Ron Bertie continues: “What’s important to us as a sports team is that we give our students every opportunity to pursue their sporting passion which could be playing to a very high standard or working within the industry. Sport is a global business, worth billions and we work hard with the students to ensure they are aware of the varied opportunities open to them from studying at Wembley to playing football for an American college”.

The College has an established network of contacts and experience of the processes involved in getting students stateside. A collaborative approach across the campus sees Media students working with their sporting counterparts helping produce videos which are key in the application process.

Unlike the UK, professional football clubs in the States recruit their players direct from colleges. Andover and sister college Sparsholt have a successful history of students progressing from the Sports and Football Academies to study in the States. Nineteen year old Josh Bertie is currently on a full $38K scholarship playing for Cowley College in Kansas. Josh explored the professional options in the UK but decided that playing for an American college would be the best route to playing professionally.

Ron Bertie concludes: “All students need is the determination to work hard and to succeed. Come to Andover College and we will help you progress to traditional universities, seek out exciting opportunists such as Jordan who will be studying at Wembley stadium or Gemma and Josh who are making their way over in the US.”

Please click here for further information on Sports courses available at Andover College.