Alfie Bakes: from a young boy attending football camps to an employee at Rotherham United Community Trust.
From a 10 year old aspiring footballer on Rotherham United Community Trust’s Future Stars programme to a student and employee at the Trust.
Alfie Bakes is currently a 2nd Year Foundation Degree student at Rotherham United Community Trust , an affiliation with the Trust that started when he was just 10 years old.
A keen footballer, Alfie joined the Trust’s ‘Future Stars’ Football Development Programme for 6 years which led him on to completing his GCSE’s and signing up to the full-time education and football programme at Rotherham United.
Alfie studied the BTEC Extended Diploma in Sports Coaching and Development for 2 years excelling in both education and football. His academic success saw him achieve DMM (Distinction, Merit, Merit) and his football ability and leadership skills saw him captaining the Shadow Academy squad. Whilst on the course, Alfie captained the squad on tour in Barcelona as well as accumulating over 5o hours of work experience hours to aid his career path off the pitch.
He is studying the ‘Sports Coaching and Development’ degree in Partnership with the University of South Wales where he continues to relish in the opportunities Rotherham United Community Trust provide him both on and off the pitch.
The University of South Wales allows students to gain practical experience in their desired nature of work, whilst allowing for a blended learning approach where students have both face-to face and online learning. The courses which are hosted at your local football club has a huge emphasis on gaining real world learning through placements with students only having to attend the University for short residential periods.
Alfie said: “I have loved every minute of my time at Rotherham United, firstly on the BTEC and now in Higher Education. The staff have been great with me, providing lots of opportunities in education and football. I have become a very confident person, and this is all down to the staff at Rotherham United. The learning environment and facilities could not have been any better. From my experience this is something that I would recommend to anyone.”
Alfie is highly thought of at Rotherham United both on his academic pathway as a student and as a member of staff.
Education Manager James Mahoney expressed: “Alfie has been a pleasure to teach and mentor throughout his time on our Education courses. He is a hard-working, determined individual who I am sure will go on to have a very successful career. Alfie deserves all the success due to his enthusiasm for sport and education. It has been fantastic to see Alfie’ progress from a young boy attending our football camps to now been an employee at Rotherham United Community Trust.”
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