Degree Course with MK Dons SET has seen Owen progress into his dream career path despite struggling academically
Owen has secured himself a paid role with MK Dons Sports and Education Trust after huge progress on the course despite self-admittedly not being the most academic individual.
Prior to enrolling on the course, Owen’s life was football-focused having attended Denbigh Football Academy, but he picked up a serious knee injury that would eventually require a knee replacement. Although a hard thought to process, Owen channelled his frustration into considering other career paths in the sport which is where he found his desire to work as a coach.
Owen was always very aware of the focus that was required in both work and study but felt his immaturity often got the better of him and led him to regularly lose his way or give up on tasks. However, he made the decision to go and find voluntary work at MK Dons SET for eight months prior to him starting his foundation degree; a decision that has paid dividends to his personal and professional development.
He started the programme with impressive subject knowledge but his attitude let him down in terms of his initial success but as the course progressed, as did Owen as he started to show great leadership qualities and resourcefulness in his study.
His continuous development was lauded by Kelly Day, MK Dons SET Community and Inclusion Officer, she said: “Owen has been coaching with us since October, initially he began with just the Pan-Disability and Mental Health players but has now moved into coaching the youth teams as well and is going to take on an Under 16s team for league competition as well. He has built a good relationship with all the players and the other coaches in a really short period of time which has aided his delivery and is a testament to his likeable character. He struggled slightly to adapt to sessions in the beginning, due to the array of disabilities and needs within the cohorts, but he has been confident enough to ask for help with this to the point where he is now leading and delivering good sessions and is able to adapt these where needed.”
Owen highlights his work as something he’s “always dreamt about” and shows real admiration and thanks to those involved at the programme. He explained: “I feel like that I’ve changed a lot especially with doing my work at home and not leaving deadlines to the last day. In early September (when still a volunteer coach) I got asked if I could cover an inclusion football session. I decided that as I had nothing on a Thursday during the day, I would volunteer. It went really well, and I got asked if I wanted to carry on with it and if I wanted to pick up extra hours with inclusion at the weekend. I agreed to this and then it started to be every Thursday and Sunday. At the end of the month, Kelly (Inclusion football officer) asked if I needed a timesheet to be signed. I told her I’m not a causal coach and only a volunteer. After that, she offered me a role in casual coaching which I am still grateful for today I also got more hours within inclusion, and I am now doing schools as well. This has been a big achievement for me but only the start of something new.”
From a boy who struggled, to a man who is continuously pushing his own development; Owen is an example of how the course allows individuals to succeed both on and off the pitch.
The degree course is one of several degrees offered at EFL Club’s across the country in partnership with the University of South Wales. The degree provides the skills and qualities that are required to work within professional football clubs community departments or other national sports governing bodies in areas of growth such as social inclusion, community coaching and football development. Students are uniquely based within their own local football Clubs where they gain valuable first-hand experience of working in a community sports environment with a minimum of five days per year at the USW Sport Park, a £3.7m state-of-the-art coaching and performance development centre.
For more information on the degree click here.
