University achieves highest accreditation status in football

The University of Wolverhampton has been recognised for its work in football for students having been awarded a three-star rating for the BUCS Football Accreditation programme.  

It's the second consecutive year the University has been awarded a three-star rating, the highest rating a University can achieve through England Football. 

The accreditation is an operating model which aims to unite the delivery of football under consistent standards to raise both the equality of access of football provision and the quality of that provision. 

The BUCS Football Accredited Universities network supports institutions to create a football and futsal offer which meets the needs of male and female students who want to play either recreationally or competitively, as well as those who want to play a role in making the game happen. 

The University of Wolverhampton met the criteria in achieving the highest accreditation level having created pathways into football for students.  

To become accredited, the University needed to meet accreditation standards focused around four key pillars: 

• Participate - An inclusive football or futsal offer for men and women which provides an opportunity to play on a recreational basis 

• Lead - Inclusive access for students to have workforce & leadership opportunities within the game 

• Compete - An inclusive football or futsal offer for men and women which provides an opportunity to play on a competitive basis 

• Connect - Evidence of a relationship with a County Football Association (CFA) to demonstrate it is connected to the local football and futsal landscape 

Former Birmingham City and Tottenham Hotspur footballer, Kerys Harrop, now Lecturer in Football Coaching and Performance at the University, said: “Being a three-star accredited University is something to be proud of. We have over 100 students working and volunteering in the game with local clubs and teams. Students also have been working in the USA this summer too as a partnership with Challenger Sports.” 

“Moving forwards, we are looking for more partners and clubs to align pathways to employability through football. We already have links with Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Walsall Football Club Foundation and the academy at West Bromwich Albion.  

“We want to engage more girls and women into the pathways and programmes also to help the growth of Womens football too.”  

Anyone interested in studying for courses at the School of Sport at the University of Wolverhampton should register for one of our forthcoming Open Days.    

To find out more about graduate success, check out the Every Story Has a Start web page which showcases our exceptional alumni across the globe doing incredible things. High achievers from the worlds of literature, business, sport, film and the arts feature, sharing how their lives and careers have developed since their days studying with us.