Local students had an experience like no other when they were joined by West Ham United midfielders James Ward-Prowse and Andy Irving, plus goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.
In collaboration with the University of East London, the West Ham United Foundation delivers an exciting degree programme, BSc Sports Coaching and Performance.
The programme helps support undergraduate degree students trying to break into the exciting industry of sport across a range of disciplines, including coaching, performance analysis, strength and conditioning and sports psychology.
Recently, BSc Sports Coaching and Performance students had the opportunity to learn from three West Ham first-team players, during a 90-minute Q&A session at the university’s Docklands campus.
Ward-Prowse, Irving and Foderingham provided valuable insights about their experiences as professional footballers, with the topic of the Q&A focused on winter training.
“It’s been a really good afternoon, and I found it really interesting to learn about what the students are working on here at the University of East London and be able to give a perspective and insight into what goes into training and recovery in the colder months as a professional footballer,” said Irving.
“Education is such an important thing, and it’s important to educate yourself in many different ways. It’s important that a Club as big as West Ham United supports and gives back to their local community. We get a lot of support from the community of east London, and as a footballer, you’re seen by a lot of people as a role model, and for us to be able to come down here and meet students and show the personable side is a real privilege, and I hope they were able to take something from it into their own careers.”
Individuals presented their suggestions to the room, enabling the coaches, players and students to discuss their ideas and areas for improvement, while students had the opportunity to ask the players about how they train and recover in cold winter temperatures.
“Having James [Ward-Prowse], Wes [Foderingham] and Andy [Irving] at the campus was a great experience for all the students. It allowed them the opportunity to connect real-life professionals to their degree, and it’s an experience that is invaluable,” said Alfie Crickmar, who is the Higher Education Manager at the University of East London, and is responsible for delivering parts of the course to students.
“We’re the only Premier League Club to partner with a degree programme in the country, and seeing and learning from the three first-team players at West Ham United shows our students what it takes if they want to be successful in their own desired pathways.
“It’s such a bespoke opportunity as it offers that unique pathway for our students to go and make a career for themselves in sport.
“It’s important that the students connect with something that they feel value in, and I think West Ham brings those family values that we speak so highly of, and that brings the students together like one family, and having that connection within the Club is so important.
“We’ve also got placement opportunities within the first team at the Club, and long may that continue.”
Ward-Prowse also spoke about how vital education is for students and how important it has been in his career as a professional footballer.
Speaking at the visit, he said: “We’re in a really lucky position of being in the pinnacle of the Premier League and to be in the field that the students are interested in, so it’s been good to be able to give something back to them, and hopefully by us sharing our experiences, they can take something from it and it can help them on their own coaching journeys.
“When I came through the academy at Southampton, the rule was that we weren’t allowed to train unless our standard of classwork was at the level they expected, so it just shows how West Ham not only want to produce footballers, but they also want to prioritise education because the statistics of people who make it [as a professional footballer] are low.
“The students had a lot of brilliant pre-prepared questions, and to be able to give something back to the community across a number of different ways is huge, and it’s something that struck me when I arrived at the Club. It’s valuable because the community makes the Club a lot stronger.”
The visit showcased the unique nature of the West Ham United Foundation’s collaboration with the University of East London, with the players’ personal stories able to help students on their coaching journeys, reinforcing the notion that academic pursuits can complement and enhance a sporting career.
To find out more about the West Ham United Foundation, click HERE.
To find out more about UEL's BSc Sports Coaching and Performance degree programme, click HERE.