We are thrilled that over the last three months, Lincoln City, and in particular the Youth Academy, has been able to develop a work placement/intern scheme in partnership with The University of Lincoln and its Sports Science Department.
In recent years, University of Lincoln has seen graduates from their Sports Science courses join the First Team and Academy departments in full-time and part-time roles.
Current Masters students, Kieran Walker, Harry Rossington and Mat Rudd have been part of the First Team's backroom staff during Danny and Nicky's tenure, while Luke Treadwell (Sports Science & Medicine Assistant) and Liam Youngs (Head of Performance Analysis) are also alumni of the University.
The partnership growth has only been possible through the support and help of Sandy Willmott, plus the enthusiasm and commitment of the students at the University.
"The School of Sport and Exercise Science are delighted to be partnering with Lincoln City on the internship scheme," Sandy Willmott said.
"In recent years an increasing number of our current students and graduates have been working at the club, but this initiative has, for the first time provided a clear and sustainable framework for Sports Science, Sports Medicine and Coaching collaboration.
"We’re very grateful to Jez George and the Academy and Sport Science staff for their commitment to a shared vision that offers benefits to both sides."
Students from the University have used their expertise to support on a variety of projects, including fitness testing of the First Team players in pre-season.
"We are fortunate to have a number of outstanding education providers within the city, of which The University of Lincoln is certainly one. In fact, over the last three years their rise up the University rankings has been as meteoric as Lincoln City’s own progress on the pitch," Jez George said.
"We look forward to growing this scheme still further over the coming years and aspire to creating career pathways into professional football for The University of Lincoln students through Lincoln City or opportunities for them at other clubs through these experiences.
"In turn, The University of Lincoln are enhancing the Sports Science provision for our young players, to maximise their physical potential, and give them the best chance of a playing career pathway into professional football.
"We also want to create post-18 education opportunities for all our scholars, and non-playing career opportunities within professional sport, so this relationship ticks boxes for all parties on every level.
"Our aim of creating a sustainable, high performing, highly productive Academy, with a conveyor belt of homegrown talent for our First Team, can only be achieved by developing partnerships with top class institutions.
"This is a fantastic example of that and we are striving to make sure that it is the first of many for our Academy within the city.”
