Steve shared his personal experiences with Arsenal and explained that, despite not enjoying languages when he was younger, he had to study them at GCSE and later at A Level. As he was extremely passionate about football, he eventually found that the skills he gained through learning a language helped him secure one of just twenty roles available at Arsenal.

After being sent to countries such as Kenya and Barbados, he highlighted that it isn’t only footballers who rely on strong communication skills, there is a wide range of careers within football where languages are essential. Students were surprised to learn about the many roles behind the scenes, including analysts, agents, coaches, media teams, medical staff, community officers, and international relations specialists. The talk broadened their understanding of how global the sport truly is, and how valuable language skills can be in helping clubs and organisations operate effectively.

The session was very well received, with Year 9 students expressing how much they enjoyed the talk and how it opened their eyes to career paths in football they hadn’t previously considered.