UCFB

Name: Ben Friend
Course: BA(Hons)Football Business & Marketing
Campus: UCFB Wembley

Wembley Stadium is a busy place these days, just ask UCFB graduate Ben Friend. If it isn’t England internationals, it’s FA Cup matches. Then there’s the numerous games around the country with the Women’s team and the Under-21 side.

Since graduating from his BA (Hons) Football Business & Marketing programme in 2015, Ben has been a valuable asset to The FA, first as an Event Coordinator, and now as an Event Manager. His role and his team sit within the operations division of the governing body, and Ben helps to lead the match organisation of The FA’s events. Event management wasn’t always on his radar though, and only came into focus once he started at UCFB and undertook a work placement with The FA’s events team.

During his time at UCFB Ben also undertook placements with the marketing team at Orlando City in the US, as well as the marketing and sales team at Turf Moor with Burnley, to help bolster his impressive CV. As well as telling prospective UCFB students to be open minded about their career path within the sports industry, Ben added: “I think if you’re passionate about what you do, the whole point of UCFB is there’s somewhere for you to go and study, learn and thrive in an environment that you care about. If you’re working in that it will come naturally to you.”

Name: Lino Altieri

The 2016/17 football season saw Leicester City make their impressive debut in the Champions League, reaching the quarter-finals following their incredible title winning season the year before.

UCFB graduate Lino joined the club in November 2016, as the club was still glowing in its league win and beginning to frighten the established European elite. Before starting at the King Power Stadium though, Lino enjoyed a vital three-year work experience role with Burnley as a food and beverage assistant. There, he helped to set up corporate events on match days, as well as deal with high-end customers and corporate fans.

His time at Turf Moor, coupled with his BA (Hons) Football Business & Finance degree from UCFB, enabled him to then find full-time work at MK Dons as a customer service representative. Spending just over a year at the club, his roles varied from ticketing, unveiling a new kit, working with local clubs to encourage grassroots participation and coordinating match day mascots.

The opportunity then arose to join Premier League Leicester, just months after their famous title win. This was an opportunity too good to miss and Lino grabbed it with both hands. Lino now helps to plan match day operations for home fixtures and coordinate events for the club’s members. His role also entails working closely with the Foxes’ marketing team to help increase membership sales, dealing with daily membership enquiries quickly and efficiently and liaising with numerous suppliers and departments to help plan and organise unforgettable events for Leicester supporters.

Lino counts the rebrand of the supporters’ membership scheme for the 2017/18 season as one of his biggest achievements so far, and travelling to Atletico Madrid for Leicester’s Champions League quarter-final tie as a club representative a personal highlight.

Name: Liam Kiziltan
Course: BA(Hons) Football Business & Marketing
Campus: UCFB Etihad Campus

“I’ve always wanted to start my own company and be an entrepreneur, it gets me ticking and gets me motivated!”

Since graduating from his BA (Hons) Football Business & Marketing degree programme in 2017, Liam has continued to grow his business EQUIP Coaching to a place where he now leads a team of 20 staff and volunteers. EQUIP is a life skills training and education organisation which focuses on values and is aimed at helping people develop to fulfil their potential, promoting skills such as teamwork, confidence and perseverance which can be used at home, in school and in participant’s future careers.

After launching EQUIP in 2015, following his successful pitch to the board as part of the UCFB Sports Entrepreneur Award, Liam has delivered his programmes to over 200 children through EQUIP’s own camps, and over 2,000 children through activities in schools.

“I’m extremely passionate about seeing young people develop the life skills that will help them in the future”, Liam says. “Our aim is to equip people to lead a successful and enjoyable life.”

Away from EQUIP and his time at UCFB, Liam has also been putting his FA coaching badges to good use as a Lead Community Coach for Liverpool FC, as well as now also working with the LFC Foundation as Special Educational Needs (SEN) Delivery Lead and as an Events Assistant at his beloved Everton FC.

Liam said: “UCFB has helped develop me in a lot of different areas. A big thing in my job is public speaking and being a leader, so the skills I learnt at UCFB through my degree programme and the Sports Entrepreneur Award has prepared me to be able to do things like I am doing today.”

Name: Saad Wadia
Course: BA (Hons) Football Business & Marketing
Campus: UCFB Wembley

Saad Wadia is one of the Co-Founders and Directors of Avalon Sports Group – a London-based consultancy for business in sport, athletes and those looking to expand their market through social influencers. He founded the company with fellow UCFB graduates Raj Shah and Lorenz Essing.

During his time at UCFB Wembley, where he studied BA (Hons) Football Business & Marketing, Saad was SU president and undertook work placements including a role with the media team of the Dallas Cowboys when they played in London.

Saad and his now colleagues used their entrepreneurial spirit, as well as their knowledge of the growing sports market, to set about making Avalon a success while still students. Since then, Avalon has successfully negotiated a sponsorship deal for UK brand Crep Protect to be the official shoe care partner of Indian Super League giant Chennaiyin FC. Saad and Avalon also helped former Chelsea player Michael Essien in getting his first ever TV role for MBC Pro Sport in Saudi Arabia.

Name: Alexander Brown
Course: BA (Hons) Football Business & Media
Campus: UCFB Wembley

Filming England teams around the world, celebrating on the Wembley turf with his beloved Arsenal… it’s fair to say Alexander has made a great career for himself.

As video producer for The Football Association, Alexander has had many highlights already in his short career since graduating from UCFB’s BA (Hons) Football Business & Media programme. Just four weeks into the role, he found himself in France filming and watching the England U21’s winning the prestigious Toulon Tournament. There was also the freelance work which saw him make a film for the family of an England international and then film the party where it was premiered…

While at UCFB Alexander scored vital work experience with Burnley FC at Turf Moor, helping to film material for the clubs YouTube channel Claret Player. His good work there led to a permanent position at the club, where he was able to experience promotion to the Premier League with the Lancashire side.

Alexander’s journey to where he is today came through following his interests, building the foundations to get there – including his degree at UCFB, remaining persistent and gaining the skills and knowledge to be considered good enough for his prestigious role. Now he can count the likes of Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park as his places of work, as well as a number of house hold venues around the world.