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Top of the League - still!

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 18:29:02 GMT

University Soccer and MORE!

The Soccer and Study UK program gives you access to not just University Soccer, but League Soccer as well.

A good entry point for our present Student Athlete Fatimah Lapin was 2nd team University Football and a regular place up front for Knaresborough Town Women 1st team - she is in the top 10 goalscorers in the League with 17 goals!

The team are riding high in the West Riding Women's League, having played 10 games and won all of them.

The team will be promoted to a much higher standard next year, and will also run a Reserve Team so we are confident we can cater for all ability levels.

Great academic profile at Leeds Beckett University, a strong sporting heritage, plus the option to play Club soccer from September through to May, all to take place in a beautiful part of the UK.

Destiny Calls - Could it be calling for YOU?

Top of the Table!

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 17:36:24 GMT

This could be YOU!

Finished your Undergraduate Studies in the USA?
Interested in a Post Graduate Degree + develop your soccer skills?
All to take place at highly respected Leeds Beckett University
Just a few miles from an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - the Yorkshire Dales
Rapid links to London and Edinburgh
Premier League Football on your doorstep.
Easy access to European cities - Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid to name but a few.
Play for Knaresborough Town Women - Top of the Table and heading for the Championship.

Soccer and Study - Destiny Calls

Half Term Report

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 16:37:26 GMT

Soccer / Football can be fun

Mid term report for our Soccer&Study student athlete Fatimah Lapin holds good news and disappointing news.

Disappointing news first - after a stunning start to her soccer year at Knaresborough Town Women (17 goals in 6 games) Fatimah (front left) sustained a serious knee injury which will require surgery in the New Year.

All the more disappointing as she had played a crucial part in the Good News - Towns 100% win record in the League which gives the team every chance of not just achieving promotion this season , but they could also go up as undefeated champions.

Even in the space of one semester Fatimah has experienced playing in a team that know how to win and to achieve this whilst having lots of fun.

Perhaps Fatimah's injury will give her the opportunity to watch some WSL football in the New Year and visit some of the history associated with the County of Yorkshire.

Australia Day??

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 10:02:51 GMT

An Outstanding Double - 2 Outstanding Teams

The team at Soccer and Study UK work hard to ensure all our student athletes have the most rewarding time both on and off the field.

Last weekend it was the Rugby League World Cup Final double header.

1st up the Ladies, and Australia playing the auld enemy NZ - a great game with the Matilda's taking gold with an electric performance. Athletic, powerful, controlled with an unbeatable will to win. Awesome!

Then onto the men - hard to describe but another scintillating performance and a convincing victory against a plucky Samoan side.

You could feel some of the tackles up in the stand, but no quarter was given by either side and good to see Samoa register 2 tries.

This all took place in front of a full house at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United.

Icing on the cake was an appearance by "Sir" Kevin Sinfield, ex Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Captain, who had just completed 7 ultra-marathons in 7 days to raise over £2m for his close friend Rob Burrow, who is battling against Motor Neurone Disease. A truly emotional experience and a heartwarming reaction from the whole crowd.

A truly spectacular day that will live long in the memory.

Interested in the Soccer and Study programme? - it could be you.

#womenssoccer #SRUSAFamily #CollegeSoccer #Lifechangingexperience

The A Team

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 10:00:45 GMT

Making it happen on and off the pitch

Now well into her 1st semester, Fatimah has progressed well both on and off the field of play. I am reliably informed her Masters in Criminology is demanding but interesting, and Fatimah has already made an impression on the field of play scoring regularly for both the University team and for Knaresborough Town Women.

A visit to Wembley, Elland Road and Old Trafford nave provided some sporting highpoints and visits to the Yorkshire Dales and the historic city of York are next on the agenda.

Fatimah has just about got used to the Yorkshire weather, but a move from Florida to the North of England has required an increased number of layers of clothing.

American Football - but not as we know it!

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 09:01:44 GMT

New Experience for Fatimah

A special visit for Fatimah to Elland Road Stadium, the home of Leeds United FC. But this visit was not to watch a Premier League Football / soccer match, but an opportunity to watch the semi- final of the Rugby League World Cup.

A titanic clash between Australia and New Zealand and Fatimah's introduction to the New Zealand haka - a frightening sight before all their games.

Regarded as one of the best semi-finals on record, Australia go through to the final as 16-14 winners but NZ can regard themselves as unlucky with 2 late tries chalked off for minor infringements.

A great night, crazy mild weather for the end of November, and on top of the rugby, a visit to 2 of Leeds best known pubs to sample some traditional Yorkshire beer.

As Fatimah summarized at the end of the game - "just like American Football, without the protection"

Why Leeds?

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 11:47:08 GMT

What's not to like?

Leeds has so much going for it. The University facilities are first class, the social life is second to none, transportation links mean London and Edinburgh are less than 2 hours away, and there's an area of outstanding natural beauty, the Yorkshire Dales, right on your doorstep.

Add in top class cricket action at Yorkshire Cricket Club, Premier League Football at Leeds United, and topflight Rugby League with Leeds Rhinos, and you begin to understand why Leeds is such an attractive academic and sporting destination for International students.

Fatimah Lapin (pictured) is studying for an MA in Criminology whilst, at the same time, scoring goals for fun at a rate that even Erling Haaland would be proud of. Her team sit top of the table with a 100% win record due, in no small part to the contribution Fatimah is making both on and off the field of play.

World Champs vs Euro Champs

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 14:42:11 GMT

How far have we come?

A great day out as Fatimah Lapin, Soccer and Study UK's first client, has the opportunity to walk Wembley Way and watch the clash of Womens World and Euro champions. Great game and great atmosphere with England edging the result and suggesting that the gap between the best in Europe and the USA is now minimal. A great warm up for next year's World Cup in Australia. If I let my head rule my heart then Spain, if they can sort out internal problems, look the team to beat next year, but no-one will fancy playing England. Over 70,000 fans!!!

WOW - what a start!!!

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 16:26:06 GMT

Goals galore from Fatimah

What a start - 3 games in, 8 goals scored, 1 Player of the Match performance and Knaresborough Town with a 100% win record and top of the table. And this all prior to the start of University soccer at Leeds Beckett. Fatimah has certainly hit the ground running since arriving from sunny Florida - a great eye for goal, 100% determined and happy to work hard for her teammates, there is no doubt that Fatimah will play a major part in the development of Womens football at Knaresborough Town. Watch this space!!!

UEFA Euros - the calm before the storm

183:826942096 (Ged Jonathan Maloney) — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 09:53:29 GMT

England vs Netherlands atmosphere

The UEFA Euros start in less than a week and if England vs Netherlands was anything to go by, prepare yourself for a feast of entertaining football, with goals galore, all played in front of massive crowds. This competition has really caught the public imagination and I am heading to a full house 75,000 Old Trafford next Tuesday for the opening fixture between England and Austria. Spain remain tournament favourites but England were very impressive against Netherlands and I hope they can go all the way to Wembley. Going forward they were irrepressible against Netherlands, and look to have strength in depth - key player Lauren Hemp. Regular updates as I attend games over the next few weeks. Buckle your seatbelts and enjoy the ride!!

10 Weeks and Counting

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 16:39:25 GMT

A native New Yorker who spent her formative years in Haiti, and then attended Barry University in Florida, Fatimah will join the Soccer and Study program at the Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University in 10 weeks. Her favourite football team is Real Madrid and her favourite male /female players are Karim Benzema and Barcelona and Spanish team captain, Alexia Putellas. Alexia will feature in the forthcoming UEFA Women's EURO competition which takes place in England in July and August at the same time as Fatimah commences pre-season training in Leeds. For more information on the Soccer and Study program please go to our website at www.soccerandstudyuk.com

Destiny Calls

Tue, 17 May 2022 13:39:35 GMT

Fatimah Lapin - Welcome to LBU (Leeds Beckett University)

Fatimah Lapin is the first Soccer and Study UK student athlete to study and play soccer at LBU. Fatimah successfully completed her Undergraduate studies at Barry University in Florida, and will be studying for a Masters in Criminology at LBU. She recently spent 5 days over in the UK to have a good look at both the LBU academic and sporting facilities. Fatimah will join us in August for the UK soccer pre season and will compete for both the University and a local Soccer team. This picture was taken outside the brand new Carnegie School of Sport Building which houses outstanding athletes from a range of sports including Soccer, Athletics, Tennis, Rugby, American Football and Hockey, to name but a few.

Everyone at Soccer and Study looks forward to working with Fatimah to fulfill both her academic and sporting aspirations.

A Life Changing Experience

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 13:47:54 GMT

Could This Be For You?

Jodie Whitford-Stark, Head of Coaching at Soccer and Study UK

Graduated from Leeds Beckett University, player coach at Harrogate Town Ladies FC, key International Development role at Chelsea FC, now has a key development role at the FA.

Your soccer development could not be in better hands.

University Soccer in the UK. Preparation for life after Sport! Part 2

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 10:10:05 GMT

In part 1 of “Preparation for Life after Sport” I highlighted some of the attributes that you will exhibit as a Soccer and Study athlete, attributes that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

In part 1 we discussed achieving goals, winning mentality and accountability, and in part 2 we will look at other key attributes you will have shown as a student athlete.

For sure problem solving will be right up there – anyone who has travelled round the world to study and play soccer in a completely new environment will be accustomed to working there way through a myriad of challenges.

Our student athletes tend to be endowed with a high level of initiative so when a problem does arise, they instinctively look for solutions to the problem – another valuable personal quality.

Part and parcel of the student athlete experience is the ability to develop co-operative relationships with a variety of people from different cultures and different backgrounds. Many of our student athletes comment that developing such relationships is one of the most positive outcomes of their time as a student athlete.

And finally, a common quality in our student athletes is the ability to communicate with people, at whatever level, with confidence and authority. They will be first and foremost good listeners, with the ability and confidence to persuade people to their point of view.

Over the 40 years I have spent in various Senior Management roles in Blue Chip companies, it is difficult to underestimate just how powerful an international student degree is viewed by a potential employer.

It is important to understand that, if you take yourself seriously as a female student athlete, you may have the potential to be successful on the field of play and play at the highest level.

It’s even more important to understand that, if you take yourself seriously as a female student athlete, you will definitely be successful off the field of play.

The reason is simple – in your time as a student athlete you will have exhibited many, if not all, the key qualities, or “what count factors”, that a potential employer is looking for. These have been detailed in the last 2 blogs.

A placement with Soccer and Study will provide an environment to develop these attributes.

“ If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build, end up building us ” - Anon

GED MALONEY – DIRECTOR AND HEAD OF RECRUITMENT

University Soccer in the UK. Preparation for life in Sport!

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 13:51:04 GMT

If you take yourself seriously as a female student athlete, you may have the potential to be successful on the field of play and progress to play at the highest level.

So how can a UK University degree with Soccer and Study UK help...

The reason is simple – in your time as a student athlete with Soccer and Study UK, you will have exposure to both top quality coaching, from both male and female FA qualified coaches. Their objective will be to unlock your full soccer potential by providing a personalised training programme, as well as a challenging match programme. This will involve playing for the University team, as well as providing the opportunity to compete and play with with semi- professional local teams up to the level of step 5 in the UK pyramid. This would provide access to the likes of Leeds United, Hull City, Brighouse, York City and Harrogate Town as potential clubs to train with and play for.

You will also have the opportunity to study and earn FA coaching badges up to level 2, which will provide the opportunity to open up additional career opportunities in the world of soccer.

The Soccer and Study experience is all about developing you as an individual both on and off the field of play.

University Soccer in the UK. Preparation for life after Sport! Part 1

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 13:22:05 GMT

It is important to understand that, if you take yourself seriously as a female student athlete, you may have the potential to be successful on the field of play and play at the highest level.

It’s even more important to understand that, if you take yourself seriously as a female student athlete, you will definitely be successful off the field of play.

As a female student athlete, you learn to be results oriented, competitive, and accountable.

To be a successful female student athlete in the UK you need to be results oriented, competitive and accountable to your coaches and teammates. Successful University Soccer players are always working against stretching goals and have a plan to achieve those goals. Successful female student athletes are competitive, they want to win in training, in the classroom, and on the field of play. Successful University soccer players learn to be accountable and responsible for their actions to both their coaches and their teammates.

Employers want individuals who are competitive, and results driven, because those types of individuals will move businesses forward. Employers are looking for individuals who welcome and are motivated by responsibility, because they know these individuals will show up on time, do what they are asked to do, and are happy to take responsibility for their actions.

A placement with Soccer and Study will provide an environment to develop these attributes.