Staffordshire FA Develop New Partnership With Staffordshire University

Staffordshire Football Association are delighted to have developed an exciting new partnership with Staffordshire University, which will see the two organisations working together on strategic objectives to enhance local grassroots football across Staffordshire, and support with the recruitment and enrichment of students at the University.

The Association and University have enjoyed a long-standing informal relationship over many years and the development of this formal partnership – with Staffordshire University becoming the Principal Partner of Staffordshire FA – will see the two organisations working together on mutually beneficial strategic objectives. 

With a network of over 40,000 people involved in local grassroots football across Staffordshire – made up of players, coaches, match officials, and volunteers – and a desire from the Association and the Staffordshire football community to continually grow and develop all areas of the game, the partnership with Staffordshire University presents a great opportunity for some innovative collaboration which will enhance the work of Staffordshire FA and positively impact on local grassroots football. 

As an award-winning institution that places students at the heart of everything they do, Staffordshire University is a well-connected, vibrant, and digitally innovative University, with strong industry links and a mission to provide the next generation of education opportunities. The University is transforming people, places, and society, and their catalyst for change vision aligns perfectly to the objectives and ambitions of Staffordshire FA, with the Association about to embark on an exciting new 4-year strategy.

Included within the collaborative work will be a strong focus on enhancing the ongoing development of the grassroots football workforce, in particular coaches and match officials, who are both pivotal to the grassroots game. Staffordshire FA are continually developing innovative ideas to support with the recruitment and development of coaches and match officials, and the partnership with Staffordshire University will enhance the aims and objectives the Association are focusing on in its new 2024-2028 strategy. 

Gareth Thomas, Commercial & Partnerships Lead at Staffordshire FA: “We are delighted to have developed this partnership with Staffordshire University, which has the potential to positively impact on so many different areas, for both Staffordshire FA and the University. From the initial conversations we had to formalising the partnership, it was very apparent just how many different areas of work we could potentially collaborate on, and in doing so delivering some key objectives for both organisations.

“Staffordshire FA and Staffordshire University are both embedded in the heart of communities across the county, both very proud of all things Staffordshire and the positive impacts we can respectively make to the lives of people living and studying in Staffordshire. The County FA’s mission to provide a safe and inclusive environment where everyone can achieve their football aspirations, is underpinned by an innovative workforce at Staffordshire FA and an ambitious new strategy on the horizon, and this partnership with Staffordshire University will really assist the Association in bringing that new strategy to life. In doing so we’re very much looking forward to supporting the University with the delivery of their own objectives too, particularly around the recruitment and enrichment of students.”

Dr Alex Blackett, Head of Sport & Science at Staffordshire University: “We want to support Staffordshire FA to engage everyone in the county in football, whether as a player, coach, referee, or club member. 

“Through the partnership we want to be actively involved in enhancing CPD, trialling new technologies and ways of learning, not just with our current and future students, but also everyone affiliated to football in Staffordshire.  

“In doing so, we want to be inclusive in our approach to make the game accessible for everyone and we’re incredibly pleased to be partnering with a like-minded and aspirational organisation such as Staffordshire FA.”

As part of the partnership, Staffordshire University will also become the headline partner for the four Staffordshire FA Youth County Cup Competitions – the U15s, U16s, County Youth Challenge Cup and Midweek Floodlit competitions. The first of these finals took place on the evening of Tuesday 19 March 2024, which was an ideal opportunity for Staffordshire FA to launch the partnership, with Staffordshire University branding in display across the cup final venue.

Further information on the partnership will be communicated over the coming weeks and months as the Association and University continue to develop exciting collaborative projects.

Photo: Pictured are Dr Alex Blackett, Head of Sport & Science at Staffordshire University, and Gareth Thomas, Commercial & Partnerships Lead at Staffordshire FA.