Sports Media alumni: Life after uni

My name is Tom and I studied Sports Media at The University of Chichester between 2017 to 2020.

The Sports Media course at Chichester was a perfect set up for how working in my specific industry would be. It was a great way to build up the confidence in working with external clients and building a strong portfolio, whilst working in multiple different avenues as a videographer, editor and graphic designer, and building those skills to make myself an all-rounder.

I received great opportunities whilst studying my course. Ian Worden was brilliant for all of us, he had some great contacts at Chichester City and allowed us the brilliant opportunity to follow the team and their triumph in the FA Cup! He also gave us the foundations to work with the university sport clubs, allowing us to build up our skill set.

I am currently a graphic designer for Manchester City Football Club. My work alters day to day, one day I could be creating new branding for the whole club’s identity across social media, the next day I could be working with Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish, directing them for photoshoots that can help us further down the line. I work in a team of 13 designers, there is tonnes of work and can change day to day. I see my team working on promotional content for Netflix Documentaries, transitions and branding for Live Matches and much more!

I spent the first-year post university volunteering at a multitude of football clubs, working freelance and building on my portfolio as much as possible. I also worked for a Football Academy creating content for different media channels and websites. After that, I worked for a graphic design agency in London that worked with several sports betting companies, particularly focusing on Horse Racing. I then started working for Watford Football Club and spent a year and a half working as a designer for them, alongside freelance work for Puma.

_________

I think my proudest moment is getting a dream job for the Champions of the World, Manchester City.

_________

The most exciting part of my job is being able to work for one of the biggest brands in the world and seeing everything that goes on behind the scenes to make Manchester City the great club that it is. Also seeing some of the best athletes interacting with content you have created it pretty cool!

My biggest advice to anyone is to do as much as you can for as many people as you can. It’s hard to at first but putting in those first steps of work can help so much, and being able to showcase a strong portfolio is only beneficial. I’d also encourage as many interview processes as possible, I applied for so many roles that I wasn’t qualified for, but it allowed me to understand what I needed to do in order to be at the stage that was required!

_________

Do as much as you can for as many people as you can!

_________ 

-Tom, Sports Media alumni