Alexandre Gros

Sport and Leisure Management BA (Hons)

My placement was at Eastbourne Borough Football Club in 2010. I decided to start early in order to work during the final fixtures of the season. It was really worth it as Eastbourne Borough were in a relegation battle and avoided the drop from the Blue Square Premier on the final match of the season! The celebrations after the final whistle were memorable and a great experience.

Working for a football club was my first choice because I wanted to see for myself if it was as exciting as what I had imagined and been told. Sure enough it was, I am now seriously considering working for a sports team as a future career. The customers and sponsors I have dealt with are all fans and the passion from them and the volunteers for the club is truly uplifting. Eastbourne Borough being a small structure, I have been presented with the opportunity to do many different things. I have visited sponsors, organised marketing operations, set-up communication channels for the club, sold season tickets and helped with match-day preparations. Some of the work I have produced was regularly used by the Chairman and CEO of the club to make decisions.

On a personal note, being from outside the UK, this was my first full-time working experience here and I have learnt a lot about the way things are done. Working in English football is something I had wanted to do ever since I had started watching Premiership games back home as a child. Hopefully this working experience will open doors for me in clubs at a higher level when I graduate from university.