Back of the (careers) net with hat-trick of graduate footie jobs

The saying goes that ‘they think it’s all over’, but the careers of three graduates are only just beginning with a hat-trick of sports roles at noted footie clubs.

Cameron Lawrie, Daniel Boateng and Nathan Surti only collected their Sports Rehabilitation and Conditioning degree certificates in November.

But they were already on their way to career success thanks to their time at University of Northampton (UON) which helped them net sports rehab and physio roles at football clubs up and down the country.

Cameron, from Maidstone in Kent, is currently at Gillingham Football Club as a sports therapist intern working with both first team and academy. He says: “I did sports science when I was at college and learned lots of the basics there. In my second year I did a sports massage and injuries module. It intrigued my fancy, learning about the mechanisms of injuries, anatomy, and how to treat muscles.

“A few of us from college came to an Open Day at UON after hearing about the new course here. Brendon Skinner, the course lead, fired my interest. He spoke to us as individuals, really personalising the degree. It was so obvious he was very passionate about his profession.

“We were the first cohort to join a new degree, and I feel quite proud to be the first to graduate as we had no others to look up to and see what they had done before us. We are trailblazers as we did it all from scratch!”

Daniel, originally from Croydon, is currently working with Crystal Palace Football Club’s Academy as a Physiotherapist. It’s a role he has thrown himself into, helped by his time at the University, as he says: “I work pitch-side helping on match days, sorting players out if they have any issues or injuries and generally helping to keep the playing going on. Honestly, I love the whole atmosphere here. I walk into a great venue with first-class facilities and think: ‘Wow! How privileged am I?!’

“The way UON course is set-up helped me get to this point, its design, and the placement opportunities. We had people from UEFA come in to teach us about basic life support training, and they put me through to supervisor at Crystal Palace’s Academy. It all seemed so random at the time, but it has paid off.

“Being one of the first graduates is a bit of a weird thing. I can’t remember walking across the stage at graduation because I was in a daze! I was a mature student and took a gamble on coming to university, so it feels great to make it through and go on to good things. I guess the newest students can look at what we have gone on to do and see the choices available to them.”

Nathan, from Birmingham, is working with the women’s team at Birmingham City Football Club as a Physiotherapist/Sports Rehabilitator with their academies and Regional Talent Club. He says: “It’s been great being at Birmingham for the past few months, especially because we’ve had several successes. For instance, I’ve been working with the ladies first team with some at the World Cup, so I’m working with high-level athletes.

“Northampton was my second choice, but when I came here and spoke to people and looked around, it moved up my list. It’s a smaller university, so you get a more personal, hands-on approach. And no one fights for placements with the local clubs because students from multiple universities aren’t in competition for them.

“I want to go on sabbatical to the Gold Coast in Australia and Canada. Gold Coast area. I plan a tour for a month or two in both countries and see their facilities, link in with professionals there, and shadow them to see how they do things, utilising all that I have learnt at Northampton.”

Find out more about our degree in Sports Rehabilitation and Conditioning.