Attending the BUCS Emerging Club Leaders Development Day (South) at the iconic Wembley Stadium was a valuable experience to meet students, connect with mentors, and network with different people involved in universities. The event gave me the chance to share my own leadership journey, learn from others, and reflect on the skills needed to develop as a leader.

I am grateful to BUCS for inviting the FANYC down as it gave me the opportunity to speak with Joel Moore in front of the students. I spoke about my involvement in football, the opportunities I have been given, and how these have helped me develop as a young leader. It was a great chance to reflect on my journey so far and share what I have learned along the way, while hopefully encouraging other young people to take opportunities, get involved, and develop their own leadership skills.

I spoke about the start of my football journey as a Match Official, explaining how refereeing has helped me develop important skills such as communication, decision-making, confidence, and leadership. I started talking about having responsibility at a young age and the different doors it has opened. I wanted to highlight that refereeing offers much more than making decisions, but instead, providing me with valuable skills that I have applied to other roles.

In addition to this, it was fantastic to speak with Benson from TWO SEVEN SEVEN. We discussed the different things we are currently involved in, and I also attended his workshop on employability, which explored the different strengths and skills needed to succeed. Hearing about his own journey provided another prospective on personal development, and the importance of recognising my strengths, while continuing to work on areas for improvement.

Throughout the day, I was also able to speak with the Football Development Officer at BUCS, Kevin Newell (a previous member of the FANYC). It was great to connect with someone whose experience spans university sport and youth leadership in football. These conversations provided an opportunity to share experiences and built connections with the rest of the team at BUCS.

My role as Clubs lead on the FANYC is another reason why I found the day so insightful. With all the young people taking part having placement at clubs across the pyramid, it was interesting to find out the work that they will be doing, and how I could possibly work them during their placement. It also gave me the chance to learn how different clubs involve young people and find ways to strengthen youth voice within their organisation.

I left the event with new connections, fresh perspectives and the opportunity to reflect on my own development. Being able to share my journey with students was particularly rewarding, and I hope it encouraged them to recognise opportunities available to them.

The biggest takeaway for me was the importance of creating opportunities for young people to share their experiences, learn from others, and develop their confidence. Everyone’s journey into youth leadership will look different, and sometimes the first step is getting involved. I left Wembley reminded that sharing our experiences can help others see what is possible and encourage them to take the next steps in their own journey.