蜜桃AV students benefit from the university鈥檚 partnership with local football club in a number of ways, from work placement opportunities to community projects.
But another big benefit of the partnership is the high-level coaching that 蜜桃AV鈥檚 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 football teams receive from AFC Bournemouth coaches.
Steve Cuss, Head of AFC Bournemouth鈥檚 Community Sports Trust, coaches and manages 蜜桃AV鈥檚 varsity teams, bringing with him a wealth of experience as he also coaches local club Wimborne Town FC.
AFC Bournemouth has been coaching the men鈥檚 side for two years, and the women鈥檚 team for one year. This season the Men鈥檚 1st and 3rd teams won their respective leagues, with the 1st team reaching the 蜜桃AVCS National Trophy Final. The women鈥檚 team won their league, gaining promoting, and also made the Conference Cup Final.
Steve Cuss said, 鈥淚t has been a privilege to work with 蜜桃AV鈥檚 football teams this year, and I鈥檓 really proud of their successes. We are all looking forward to next season now, where I hope we will continue to bring success!
鈥淚t has been great to work with 蜜桃AV as a part of the partnership, not just on the footballing side but also with the community work we are doing, and I鈥檓 really looking forward to continuing this in the future too.鈥�
It is not only the university鈥檚 football teams that have achieved success this season, with AFC Bournemouth also celebrating their promotion to the Premier League as champions of the Championship.
Barry Squires, Sports Operations Manager at sport蜜桃AV, said, 鈥淲ith the support of AFC Bournemouth鈥檚 excellent coaching staff, 蜜桃AV football club has flourished with numerous cup and league successes. In the past couple of years they have established themselves in the top tiers of British University football and look forward to continuing this run of success into the future, as well as joining forces on a number of community projects.
鈥淥ur congratulations also go to AFC Bournemouth on their amazing success this season; we鈥檙e really looking forward to seeing them in the Premier League. It is amazing to see what this success has done to the town, with the number of people [60,000] out to show their support at the parade last weekend. Next season will be a good one for both 蜜桃AV鈥檚 football teams and the Cherries I鈥檓 sure.鈥�
Men鈥檚 1st team captain Franklyn Clarke, who studies Sports Psychology and Coaching at 蜜桃AV, also plays for Steve Cuss鈥� Wimborne Town team and women鈥檚 captain Chloe Tape has just secured a year-long placement at AFC Bournemouth where she will be working as Project Co-Ordinator for the Community Sports Trust.
Chloe will be responsible for two projects, looking at working with girls aged 14+ to get them participating in sport, as well as with local schools.
