Ellie's Chester Made Story: My time at university played a huge role in shaping the person I am today

One of the things I loved most about my course was the freedom to shape my assessments around my own interests. I was particularly drawn to exploring how gender and gender identity are represented in sport and I appreciated being able to focus much of my work in this area. I also enjoyed learning about how socio-economic differences impact individuals' participation in sports. Lessons always felt comfortable and collaborative, like a shared conversation among people who were genuinely passionate about the same topics. 

The piece of work that had the biggest impact on me was my MSc dissertation. Completing such a substantial project, especially conducting qualitative interviews with people I had never met before, was a moment of personal growth. 

My time at university played a huge role in shaping the person I am today. I’m now a Football Development Officer, working with grassroots clubs to deliver inclusive and progressive sessions for their communities. I also chose to stay in Chester after graduating because I fell in love with the city and wanted to stay near the friends I made at university.  

The picture at the top of the page is me at my MSc graduation. I finished my degree during COVID, so the graduation was postponed. It was nice to celebrate my achievement, even if it was later than originally planned. 

My first graduate role was as a Community Development Worker for a local football club’s Community Trust. As the position was newly created, I had the freedom to design projects that reflected the needs of the local community. Using the appeal of the football club, I was able to engage families and launch initiatives such as affordable toddler sessions, refugee football programmes, and holiday provision for children from low‑income families. 

I then moved to a football governing body, where I began my current role as a Football Development Officer for the disability pathway. Working in football development is incredibly rewarding. I can improve accessibility, create lasting impact across communities and support coaches in developing the confidence and skills to work inclusively with disabled players. The picture below features me handing out medals at the mixed-gender pan-disability league I run. 

My advice to graduates is to keep pursuing opportunities in the sector they care about. Securing a job related to my degree has been one of the most fulfilling achievements of my career and I encourage others to do the same if they can.