A Celebration of the Women on our USW Degree Programme

There are now over 100 women on our University of South Wales degree programmes who are studying at a Football Club to become the next generation of sports coaches and work in community sport. On our football and sport coaching courses students learn about children and youth coaching, sports coaching, football development, social inclusion and sports management. Whilst our Sports and Business Management degree is for students who are looking for a career in sports business and management.  All students study whilst gaining invaluable practical experience working at a Football Club

On International Women’s Day, here are a few of our female students who are studying at Football Clubs around the Country and are already making a difference in their community.

Carys Tilley​
Cardiff City FC Foundation

As a student on the Sports Business & Management course, Carys has embraced the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in event coordination with Cardiff City FC Community Foundation. Through events like the Premier League Girls Kicks Celebration, Strategy Launch, and EFL Week of Action, she has gained insight into the planning, media engagement, and communication that bring events to life. From learning how to create promotional materials to capturing live event content, Carys has developed key skills that will support her ambition to pursue a career in marketing and communications. 

Meya, Mia & Erin​
Albion Foundation

Meya, Mia, and Erin are the first-ever female students to pursue a degree with the Albion Foundation, marking a significant milestone in Albion’s programme. Mia and Erin, who both transitioned from Albion’s Post 16 programme, showcase the success of our pathway development. All three are actively engaged in the community, delivering a variety of sessions while also contributing to girls-only initiatives like Girls Kicks, Girls Development Centre, and the WBA Girls Academy. Throughout their journey, the girls have developed essential skills, particularly in building relationships. This has included fostering confidence, communication, and engagement with participants, colleagues, and external partners, demonstrating their growth as role models within their communities.

Macy Lunn​
Barnsley FC Community Trust

Macy has advanced through the Barnsley’s Foundation Degree in Community Football Coaching and Development and is now finishing her BSc Top Up in Football Coaching and Administration. Alongside her academic pursuits, she has secured paid employment at the Trust, where she coaches in the Football and Education program and provides classroom support. Previously, Macy played for Barnsley FC Women’s first team, and this season, she reached the second round of the Women’s FA Cup with Handsworth Ladies. Looking ahead, Macy has applied for her PGCE, aiming to pursue a career in teaching.

Aimee Parfitt​
(Newport) County in the Community

Beginning her journey as a volunteer at Newport County’s soccer schools, Aimee has spent the last 4 years developing her skillset through the soccer schools and term time delivery local schools, where she has gone from strength to strength. The USW degree programme in Sports Coaching & Development has allowed Aimee to develop and improve her coaching practice even further by providing a platform to plan, organise and deliver sessions more effectively, propelling her forward to become one of our most valued members of delivery staff at County in the Community. Because of this, Aimee was put forward to be one of two coaches featured in Sport Wales’s upcoming ‘Foundations Framework’, which will feature videos of Aimee demonstrating how to coach an effective multi-skills session.

Grace Evans​
Cardiff City Foundation

Grace, a dedicated individual with a passion for football.  Her hard work and commitment paid off when she became a paid member of Community Foundation staff, allowing her to carry out football coaching in local primary schools and Cardiff City FC Soccer Schools. Grace also joined the coaching team at the Football Club’s Advanced Development Centres (ADC), showcasing her growing expertise and reputation in the industry. She has since become a highly respected coach, aiming to break into Academy football.​

Grace also expertly hosted City’s Annual Impact celebration event, interviewing beneficiaries in front of stakeholders, guests and funders. Her journey with the Foundation is a perfect example of how dedication can transform passion into a career, benefiting both her personal development and the community around her.

Molly Green​
Bristol City

Molly’s has made outstanding contributions, both academically and within the community. She has shown incredible dedication to the pan-disability sessions she volunteers on and has made a meaningful impact through her volunteering at an SEN school. Alongside this, Molly consistently achieves high grades, demonstrating her strong academic abilities and commitment to excellence. Her passion for inclusion, combined with her academic success, makes her a truly inspiring individual.

Chelsea Hopkins​
Fleetwood Town Community Trust

Chelsea is one of Fleetwood’s first-year students and has adapted amazingly well to the degree programme. She has worked for the community trust for the last two years and currently supports the local community across a range of programmes including PL Kicks, birthday parties, sports camps and PESS sessions. Chelsea’s confidence as a coach has significantly improved this year and she is set to develop her experience further through coaching in America over summer with Challenger Sport.

Megan Hammond​
Sheffield Wednesday FC Community Programme

Megan has made an incredible impact over the past three years, playing an effective part in delivering the community programme with SWFC. Her contributions have ranged from supporting as a teaching assistant on the BTEC program to assisting with the AP provision and leading summer camps.​

Her dedication and passion were recently recognised when she was honoured as ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ for her coaching work with Sheffield Wednesday Ladies U12s. Looking ahead, Megan is expanding her horizons even further by applying to coach in Chicago during the summer of 2025, eager to continue her growth and development both personally and professionally.

Farrah Hoyle​
Burton Albion Community Trust

Beyond the pitch, Farrah continues to make an impact. She is now a valued member of the Burton Albion Community Trust team, working alongside her full-time studies in Community Football Coaching and Development at USW. Always striving for excellence, Farrah embodies dedication, resilience, and the spirit of Burton Albion.  Her journey is a testament to hard work, ambition, and the opportunities available through the club’s development pathway. 

Libby Henderson​
Middlesbrough F.C Foundation​

Libby takes part Boro’s wake up shake up sessions taking a pivotal role leading sessions and ensuring her fellow students are engaged. She attends placement in our local primary schools taking her learning from the classroom into real life situations where she inspires young children to engage in sport. Libby is an asset to the Charity and a real inspiration to those around here. 

Honey Greaves​
Tigers Trust (Hull City)

Honey fully immerses herself into the modules and the practical aspects of the course. Being female in this line of work can create barriers and stigma but Honey is proving that females have just as much potential as male coaches. Last year, the opportunity arose for Honey and other students to spend a month in Italy over the summer working on camps with an array of age groups. Here she demonstrated great independence, strong leadership skills and developed as a coach by enhancing her overall skillset. ​

Honey demonstrates high levels of commitment and knowledge of the course, particularly in Sports Science. She is focused and committed, always contributing to group discussion with insightful and knowledgeable opinions.  Honey is a positive role model and a true inspiration to others.

Shannon Pack​
Fleetwood Town Community Trust

Shannon, a driven first-year student, is an experienced, UEFA C qualified football coach who excels both academically and on the field. Throughout her BTEC and degree studies, she has consistently achieved outstanding grades, all while balancing the demands of coaching multiple age groups for a local team in Blackpool.​

Beyond her coaching skills, Shannon plays a pivotal role in mentoring her players, inspiring them to grow and succeed, while always leading by example as a positive role model. Her dedication to both her studies and her team is a powerful reminder of the impact one person can have on their community.

Find out more about the degree here.