Anthony Gomez studied BSc (Hons) Football Coaching and the Performance Specialist (with Foundation Year) here at Wrexham Glyndŵr University from 2017-20. 

How did your time at Wrexham Glyndŵr University prepare you for the world of work?  

Excellent opportunities were given while studying. This enabled me to gain real world experience and make connections within the football industry. The course content also allowed me to work with gold standard software and technology used within the industry. My time at Glyndŵr also allowed me to learn new skills and give me confidence when presenting. As a mature student, Glyndŵr provided a structured pathway back into education and supported by growth personally, academically and professionally.  

What does your current job involve? 

I work as a Performance Analyst within football. I implement analysis of both team and player performance in line with the club’s football and performance analysis philosophy. I analyse all matches and footage to the agreed criteria in line with the club’s performance analysis and academy philosophies. In order to do this, I attend home and away match days and have regular communication with the coaching staff regarding the analysis needs of the group. I create, lead and present videos for individual players and the team as a whole. I also maintain a database of best practice clips that the club can draw upon at any time.  

What have been your career highlights to date?  

Through the BSc (Hons) Football Coaching and the Performance Specialist degree programme, I was provided with an amazing opportunity to work alongside the FAW Analysis Team on the national stage during the Wales vs Trinidad and Tobago match in 2019. I have also worked for the FAW on several other projects which were hugely valuable. 

During my studies, I was offered an internship opportunity to work as an analyst for Wrexham AFC. Again, another fantastic opportunity that provided me with such a wealth of experience within the applied world of elite football.    

I have been asked to be the performance analyst for a 6v6 world cup tournament in Mexico in the Spring of 2022, which I am thoroughly looking forward to!  

What made you choose Wrexham Glyndŵr University?  

I knew I wanted to pursue a career within the football industry. I did my research regarding the courses available and realised that there were not many universities in the UK that provided a football specific course. Not only did WGU provide this, they also integrated valuable coach education qualifications within the degree! As a mature student, this was a win-win for me. The WGU football degree was by far the most impressive, but also geographically the best placed, being that I have a family and live only 45 minutes from the University.  

Secondly, the lecturers. They were brilliant! Not only from an academic perspective but also as a support network. They challenged me to push myself but supported me along the way! 

What kind of student were you?  

I entered the University through the foundation programme. It had been a long time since I had been in an academic environment and didn’t feel like I was really ‘academic’. However, through starting the journey on the foundation year, it taught me how to be a student and how to manage my workload and time.  

I was also extremely engaged – I got involved and put my hand up for the many opportunities that were on offer! The lecturers provided so many opportunities and they really encouraged us to apply the theoretical knowledge to the applied football environment.  

How did studying at Wrexham Glyndŵr University help you? 

In addition to the theoretical knowledge, the networking opportunities were second to none! The opportunity to speak to professionals within the industry really gave me a great pathway for future job opportunities. Furthermore, by having the UEFA B Licence through the programme, it placed me in a great position to apply for jobs and prepared me for the working world of football.  

What advice would you give someone wanting to work in a similar field?  

Be proactive and always try and get better at what you want to do. 

Take any opportunities that may come up, even if these are unpaid volunteer roles. You never know where they may lead and will allow you to gain experience.  

Would you recommend taking a course with Wrexham Glyndŵr University, and why? 

Yes – The holistic nature of the staff makes it an easy choice, coupled with the quality of the courses and facilities - I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who’s passionate about football!    

What is your favourite memory of your time at Glyndŵr? 

Just one? Watching my friend and fellow student absolutely smash a presentation in 2nd year after they had struggled a lot in the first two years. It was a bit of a eureka moment for us all as we realised we had all changed quite a lot, and the whole cohort felt a lot of pride in that moment.  

If you could sum up your Glyndŵr experience in a quote, what would it be?  

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, But no one thinks of changing himself.” 

 (Tolstoy) 

[I’d like to give] huge thanks to all of the lecturers and staff at Glyndŵr for giving me opportunities and experiences I will never forget. I walked in hoping for a degree, the hat and cape etc. I walked out 4 years later with much more than that, some great friends and a job I love.