Recapping the 2022 UoG Summer TOurOur first UoG Summer Tour was a success! Last week the students and their families returned home after almost ten days of experiencing UDA, the University of Gloucestershire, and the UK.
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As we round out the second semester and first full year at the University of Gloucestershire, we wanted to reflect on the past semester. In January, the second term began with training. At the end of the month the boys had a tremendous opportunity to be coached by a former Premier League coach, Richard O’Kelly.
Following the training session the former Aston Villa number two held a Q&A where he was asked who was the best player he had coached. He answered, without hesitation, that it was Jack Grealish, not only for his incredible talent, but also for his hard work and dedication to the game, noting that Grealish would be out on the practice pitch long after his team mates had left.
The top flight hat-trick was completed with an FA Cup Fifth Round tie at Anfield between Liverpool and Norwich, a chance to experience the atmosphere of this iconic stadium and to see the team who will challenge Man City for the Premier League crown at the end of the season. The boys were sat with the Norwich supporters who sang and chanted throughout the game, providing a taste of the sense of humour of British fans. Liverpool won the game and will be playing Chelsea in the Final at Wembley in May.
We look forward to you all returning after the Easter break and continuing your academic and football success!
Reposted from www.gloucestercityafc.com. Gloucester City AFC are delighted to announce their partnership with University Degrees Abroad (UDA). The American based academy are partnered with the University of Gloucestershire to offer American based students a chance to study abroad whilst also receiving a professional standard experience in several different sports.
The partnership will span across the Gloucester Sport model but has first started with football. Players within the academy will compete for Gloucester City AFC at U21 level, with the club now using that age group differently in their new structure. In return the academy will be helping the club’s local talent to gain sports scholarships to the USA so they can continue studies and play at the highest collegiate level. Gloucester Sport CEO, Jay Marriott said: “I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Jeff and Brian over a number of months and see so many similarities in the values that they run their program. The American player market has been up and coming for a while now and we are excited to open our club to them in order to build the program to the next level. For our academy players this will be a different but great opportunity should they wish to access it to look to travel, study and continue to play at a high level. As we develop our player pathways we want to offer as many opportunities as possible to develop them as a player and a student.” Executive Director of UDA, Brian Haley said: "We are delighted to work with a football club with over 139 years of tradition and history rooted in the community. This opportunity will offer our International students and the youth players at GCAFC opportunities in the UK and USA that will broaden their experiences on and off the pitch. The working relationship will further strengthen the UDA mission for students by providing community engagement as they study at the University of Gloucestershire. Thank you to Jay Marriot for being the architect of this relationship that will enhance the mission, vision and values of our respective organizations" We offer a range of different opportunities for students because we know one-size doesn't fit all, so why should a university experience? It is well documented that presently, U.S. collegiate soccer with its limited season and oversized rosters means little true development opportunities for many talented players, restricting student’s optimal development. Across all our Academies, our goals remain the same, to provide the world's best integration of university education and football experience so students can reach their potential in the classroom and on the field. On both sides of the pond, our academy locations allow every student the opportunity to study, live, and thrive. Here's a Breakdown of Each UniversityAs well as what you can expect, to help you determine if this is a good fit for you. The University of GloucestershireLocated in Gloucestershire, England, the University of Gloucestershire is considered the UK’s most sustainable university (People and Planet League 2019). Across three specialized campuses, Gloucestershire is home to over 10,000 students, over 80 competitive sports, clubs, and societies, with over 4,000 placements and internships completed by students. Set in the idyllic countryside with close proximity to the iconic Cotswolds and Shakespeare Country, Gloucestershire offers the best of a small city with the beauty of England's green and pleasant lands.
The University of ChesterThe University of Chester is home to 20,000 students from 130 different countries, with over 300 courses offered across 30 programs. While studying in the UK you will be able to earn your undergraduate degree in just three years. Most undergraduate degrees include a five-week work placement in your second year anywhere in the world!
The University of Chester aims to support and develop global citizens. Offering over 300 degree options across three specialized campuses, UoC has academic opportunities for everyone. Focusing on quality, most degree programs take a duration of three years to complete. In addition to its unique culture, Chester prides itself on offering a variety of student support options. From advice to personal guidance, the University wants all students to have a memorable experience during their course of study. New Mexico State University
In addition to the NM year-round climate, Las Cruces offers outstanding outdoor recreation activities for those seeking an outdoor lifestyle. The campus at NMSU is home to over 11,000 students offering a diverse, vibrant campus culture. Even with a lot of great options, determining what may be a good fit for you, isn't always easy. Know that you don't have to do any of this alone! We strongly encourage you to reach out with any questions. If you're interested in a particular academy, the best way to learn more is to attend a recruitment event. If you're unable to attend in-person, we recommend signing up for an online information session where we will answer all of your burning questions. If you think jumping across the pond might be the best move for you, check out the degree courses offered at Chester and Gloucestershire to get an understanding of what program you might be interested in studying. We're As Serious About Your Future As You Are.This year, the UoG players have had some unique opportunities in the football world. The team had the recent opportunity to attend a Champions League game between Manchester City and the Belgium champions, Club Brugge at The Etihad in Manchester. Following that win, the students came back for another Premier League match between Manchester City and Brentford. Finally, the UDA UoG squad attended an FA Cup game between Liverpool and Norwich at Anfield. We strive to create a football experience for every UDA student-athlete. "What an achievement for these players" said Programme Director, Mal Salville. Opportunities to attend professional matches are integral to the student-athlete experience and allow them to immerse themselves in British culture during their time in the UK. In addition to visiting some of the top world class sites for football, the students get to bond with one another during their excursions. It's more than just building a football team, it's about building a team for life on and off the pitch. Learn More About What UDA UoG OffersFour students from the UDA Academy at New Mexico State, Nate Stewart, Joaquin Villescas, Matteo Cavallo, and Kean Garcia spent their spring break visiting the University of Gloucestershire campus, training, and playing with the UDA UoG Academy students this past week. "I really enjoyed experiencing a day-to-day life as a UDA UoG student-athlete" stated Matteo Cavallo. During their visit, the students played at the local professional stadium, Gloucester City AFC as part of a UDA showcase event. The NMSU students also had the opportunity to play against the University of Gloucestershire first team, train with the UDA coaching staff, and watched a local professional game at Cheltenham Town. Watch Matteio Garcia's goal in the 3-1 win against a Gloucester City AFC squad. To top off the visit, the NMSU students visited London while two others attended the West Ham versus Aston Villa game at the Olympic Stadium. Head of the UDA UOG Academy, Dave Nicholos, complemented the students from the NMSU Academy stating, “The students were top class in all respects. They were on time, courteous, hard working, and were excellent throughout the trip. A credit to the coaching staff at New Mexico and the UDA organization.” "Overall, the trip was another great experience and culturally enriching. Some of the highs to take away from the trip were experiencing a different culture, playing against a different style of soccer, traveling, watching a Premier League game, and playing a professional youth team" stated Nate Stewart. In an ongoing effort to widen and broaden experiences and opportunities for students, we look forward to continuing to provide training and playing opportunities, for selected students both in the UK and USA. Learn more about the NMSU AcademyOver President's Day weekend, first-year at UDA UoG, Roi Gil attended the BBYO International Convention in Baltimore, Maryland. The BBYO International Convention is an annual event where more than 5,000 young-adult leaders of the Jewish faith come together to attend one of the largest gatherings of teens in the world. During the convention, delegates have the opportunity to attend speaker sessions, learn leadership skills, and experience the energy filled weekend among new and old friends. The convention is also an opportunity for participants to garner leadership skills within the Jewish community while having access to music performances and global friendship throughout the weekend. Throughout the weekend, Gil held a few roles. The first was to speak about his experiences being a Jewish athlete in a university setting. During the convention, Gil got to be a part of two panels where he detailed his experiences in the UDA Academy at UoG to interested teens considering furthering their athletic careers. Gil's second role was to be an advocate for Lost Tribe's community. Lost Tribe Esports is one way that teens and young-adults come together to share and learn more about the Jewish faith. Gil became a Minecraft Counselor at Lost Tribe Esports, where their mission is to strengthen Jewish identity among teens, particularly through online gaming. Through his position, Gil became a lead counselor where he taught children about Judaism through the popular video game, Mindcraft. From this position, Gil discovered that Lost Tribe had an athletics branch, Lost Tribe Athletics, that he quickly joined. Lost Tribe Athletics can now sponsor Jewish collegiate athletes, which allows Gil to meet monthly with a community to discuss upcoming opportunities for events and projects while advertising the organization's mission. At the convention, Gil used his knowledge of Lost Tribe to share his experience with how the organization uses social media and video games to build a community for Jewish teens and young adults to connect. Gil notes he had the opportunity to meet four other sponsored athletes and staff members from Lost Tribe, "It was great to see them in person and not behind a screen. I'm looking forward to seeing them at the next event," he added. Reflecting on his biggest take-aways from the convention, Gil noted, "hearing how others have dealt with being Jewish athletes in areas with a small Jewish population has helped me learn ways of improving my understanding on how to make the most of my university experience." He continued, "I also believe that this convention combined with being in the Lost Tribe community ensures that even in an area with not a huge Jewish community, I am part of a Jewish community. Attending this convention helped me realize that." Although this is Gil's first year attending BBYO IC, he can't wait for conventions to come.
If you are interested in learning more you can view BBYO IC's mission and future events here. If you'd like to help further the Jewish faith among teens and young-adults, consider becoming part of Lost Tribe Esports or Lost Tribe Athletics. We offer a range of different opportunities for students because we know one-size doesn't fit all, so why should a university experience? It is well documented that presently, US collegiate soccer with its limited season and oversized rosters means little true development opportunities for many talented players, restricting student’s optimal development. Across all our Academies, our goals remains the same, to provide the world's best integration of university education and football experience so students can reach their potential in the classroom and on the field. On both sides of the pond, our Academy locations allow every student the opportunity to study, live, and thrive. Here's a breakdown of each universityAs well as what you can expect, to help you determine if this is a good fit for you. The University of GloucestershireLocated in Gloucestershire, England, the University of Gloucestershire is considered the UK’s most sustainable university (People and Planet League 2019). Across three specialized campuses, Gloucestershire is home to over 10,000 students, over 80 competitive sports, clubs, and societies, with over 4,000 placements and internships completed by students. Set in the idyllic countryside with close proximity to the iconic Cotswolds and Shakespeare Country, Gloucestershire offers the best of a small city with the beauty of England's green and pleasant lands.
The University of ChesterThe University of Chester is home to 20,000 students from 130 different countries, with over 300 courses offered across 30 programs. While studying in the UK you will be able to earn your undergraduate degree in just three years. Most undergraduate degrees include a five-week work placement in your second year anywhere in the world!
The University of Chester aims to support and develop global citizens. Offering over 300 degree options across three specialized campuses, UoC has academic opportunities for everyone. Focusing on quality, most degree programs take a duration of three years to complete. In addition to its unique culture, Chester prides itself on offering a variety of student support options. From advice to personal guidance, the University wants all students to have a memorable experience during their course of study. New Mexico State UniversityThe UDA-US Academy follows the success and demand of the UDA-UK Academies located in Chester and Gloucestershire, England. The UDA-US Academy is open to students from around the world seeking to further their soccer development through multiple pathways, while studying at NMSU.
Even with a lot of great options, determining what may be a good fit for you isn't always easy. Know that you don't have to do any of this alone. We strongly encourage you to reach out to Recruitment Director, Seamus Reilly with SReilly@udauk.org or +1 614-421-8084 with any questions.
If you're interested in any particular academy, the best way to learn more is to attend a recruitment event. If you're unable to attend in-person, we recommend signing up for an online information session where we will answer all of your burning questions about a UDA Academy. If a UK Academy specifically interests you, we recommend checking out the degree courses offered at Chester and Gloucestershire to get an understanding of what program might be the best fit for you. By Nathan John and Farman Siddiqui Richard O’Kelly has been involved with professional football for over thirty years and has extensive experience both as a professional footballer and as a coach. He has managed some of the country’s top players at a variety of different clubs ranging from non-league Hereford United to Premier League club Aston Villa, where his most recent position was as Dean Smith’s assistant head coach. The Birmingham born man gave an exclusive Q&A interview session to the UDA student-athletes where he answered questions on his experiences at coaching at the top level of the game. In accordance with UDA at UOG’s Training Programme, Richard offered his insight to the aspiring graduates about just what it takes to make it and what separates the top players from the others. Given the close connection between Aston Villa Football Club and UDA at UOG, Richard was invited to give his expertise on elite level football, as part of the UDA Visiting Coach Programme, which acted as a fascinating eye-opener for the students to learn more and have the opportunity to ask questions of a professional coach. “The biggest thing is the attitude” said Richard when asked his first question about what separates the top players from the rest. “It was nothing to do with ability, it was just attitude. They treat every training session, everything they do to the best of their ability. Their reaction to mistakes is also key as it happens to everyone. Turn up on time and make sure you respect your teammates and coaching staff.” Richard has fond memories from his playing days, particularly his time in the third division. His advice for younger footballers in the same position is discipline. “It was difficult sometimes to get to training for me. But I always made it when I could.” Aston Villa have had a roller-coaster of a time ever since gaining promotion in 2019. Richard credits Villa for their opportunity and when asked his favourite memory at the club, he replied “The 7th goal against Liverpool! But in all seriousness, it would have to be winning the Championship.” He was further asked who he saw as the best player he coached at the club and his reply was almost instant “Grealish.” Jack Grealish was signed by English champions Manchester City for a record British transfer fee. “If he was here right now, he would jump into the training pitch with all of you. He had much enthusiasm for the game. He’s also a really good person.” The UDA Visiting Coach Programme focuses on tactical, physical, technical and psychological parts of the game, offering a multi-dimensional look at football. |
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