Lynn joined Ipswich Town in 2002 and was subsequently promoted to business partnership manager in 2004. Lynn is responsible for managing the relationships with

the Club’s key sponsors, affinity, betting and loyalty partners, and managing The Football League commercial deals on behalf of the Club. The Club’s commercial deals are key revenue generators. For example, since Ipswich Town launched the Save & Support Accounts with Britannia, it has become one of the most successful savings schemes in football, generating over £7.2 Million for the Club. The role of the business partnership manager involves the promoting the Club’s products and services through various media channels - and on match days. Marketing campaigns can include the creation of radio adverts, the production of web editorial and e-newsletters, involvement with the design and production of adverts and flyers and the co-ordination of match day activity (pre-match and half time). The Club strives to give supporters good quality, value for money, products and services from reputable organisations. Key skills for this role include marketing, sales, project management and customer service.

JOB TITLE: BUSINESS MANAGER

Brief description:

Key skills:

The business manager of a football club is at the financial heart of things, managing revenue and expenses to achieve the highest possible profit for the club. They basically make the club money. This can be through hospitality, sales or business partnerships and on match day, they play a vital role in keeping these partners happy.

Organisation Persuasion - ability to sell ice to an Eskimo Partnership management Ability to spot opportunities Creativity

Main responsibilities:

Building revenue for the club Managing commercial partners and businesses Coming up with exciting deals and offers for fans Club revenue and expenses for partnerships and affinity products

Working hours:

Like most business jobs their official working hours are 9-5 but match day is important in courting clients, partners and local businesses.

The Winner’s Challenge:

The Ipswich Town business manager will give you an insight into the role: you will do a stadium tour – seeing where the club makes their money (billboards, hospitality boxes, club shop etc). You will then become the Business Manager deputy You will then be asked to think up a new commercial event held at the club to promote the club to local businesses and fans.

LYNN WARNER BUSINESS MANAGER

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TOP 5 TIPS FOR WANNABE BUSINESS MANAGERS:

1. A proactive sales approach is key - so going out and finding opportunities is really important.

2. An understanding of budgets and how figures work is important, so make sure your maths is up to scratch and maybe get a business studies or economics GCSE or A Level.

3. Be creative. There are 72 Football League clubs all with very similar business plans so anything that stands out, brings in revenue and appeals to the fans is a great idea.

4. A will to succeed. Love your job, enjoy it and you will want the business to prosper.

5. Have a lot of drive and determination. Be ambitious and strive for the top. Hopefully your football team will follow your lead.

Venue: Ipswich Town FC – Portman Road

An incredibly passionate and renowned communicator, Kevin Keegan is one of the most recognisable faces in British football. An illustrious playing career included time at Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle as well as the national side, captaining England for six years until his international

retirement after the 1982 World Cup. As a manager, he held the reins at Newcastle, Fulham, Manchester City and England. A highly respected and credible broadcaster, Keegan is a lead analyst on Premier League coverage and travelled to the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.Born in Doncaster, Keegan began his football career in 1968 at Scunthorpe United before moving to Liverpool in 1971 where he won three First Division titles, two UEFA Cups, an FA Cup and the European Cup. From Liverpool Kevin joined Hamburger SV of Germany.Voted European Footballer of the Year in both 1978 and 1979, his return to UK football came at Southampton before joining Newcastle United and finally retiring as a player in 1984. He was capped 63 times for England scoring 21 international goals.Kevin embarked on his managerial career in 1992 at Newcastle and then with Fulham and Manchester City. He now devotes his time to his media work and business interests.

JOB TITLE: SPORTS PUNDIT

Brief description:

Key skills:

A TV sports pundit must ooze charisma, presenting insightful and knowledgeable analysis to famous presenters and football experts.

Insightful and entertaining conversation Charisma and quick-wit Encyclopaedic knowledge of football Excellent communication Strong opinions on the topics that matter

Main responsibilities:

Keeping their beady eye on contentious decisions and team tactics The goal scorer isn’t always the man of the match; it is important to analyse and discuss all the players, some who might have been missed by the viewer at home

Ability to talk football with the confidence and speech of a newsreader but with the freedom and opinions of your mates at school

Working hours:

Working on TV programmes is always fast-moving and hours depend on how many matches are being played - big international events like the World Cup increase the hours but at least a TV pundit will see all the action firsthand!

Salary guide:

A trip to the npower Championship Play Offs at Wembley awaits our successful candidate where you will analyse a live game before taking part in a live broadcast.

KEVIN KEEGAN SPORTS PUNDIT

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TOP 5 TIPS FOR WANNABE SPORTS PUNDITS:

1. Know your stuff. Read the papers, blogs, message boards and websites and watch the football programmes.

2. Practise your public speaking. Enter debating teams, speak up in class or put yourself forward for plays and shows which will increase your confidence of speaking in public.

3. Get experience with local radio channels, newspapers and magazines: many of these like to have help from young and enthusiastic people wanting to make it.

4. Look the part. I preferred a tracksuit when I was a manager but as a pundit I like to dress smart, especially as I am on the television.

Venue: npower Championship Play Off Finals – Wembley

Born in Sheffield on December 1st 1948, Neil Warnock spent his early career with Rotherham United, Hartlepool United, Scunthorpe United, Aldershot and Barnsley.

His first full-time managerial job arrived at Northern Premier League side Gainsborough Trinity in 1981, before moving onto Burton Albion, Scarborough, Notts County, Huddersfield Town, Plymouth Argyle, Oldham and Bury.In 1999, he joined Sheffield United and in his seven years at Bramall Lane, Warnock led United to FA Cup and League Cup Semi-Finals; the First Division Play-off Final; and then, in May 2006, promotion to the Premier League.He next went to Crystal Palace who, under Warnock, made a massive turn-around, moving from relegation battlers to promotion contenders in the space of six months.Warnock joined QPR in February 2010 and quickly turned around their fortunes and guided them to safety with some margin. The 2010/11 season has seen Warnock’s QPR at the top of the Championship table for practically the entire campaign.

JOB TITLE: MANAGER

Brief description:

Key skills:

You’re the don, the master, the boss, captain and commander. You’re the difference between success and failure and thrive on being the ‘face’ of the football club.

Organisation of up and coming youth players, famous stars and seasoned professionals

Managing everyone in the club from your chairman to your grounds man Decision-making – your decisions will affect the lives of thousands of fans Hard working and a never say die attitude Communication – you may have to learn some basic Spanish!

Main responsibilities:

Keeping the fans happy – at the end of the day they pay your wages Winning trophies Signing the next big thing Keeping the dressing room on your side Getting money out of the Chairman without losing your job Players’ mentor, boss, surrogate father and shoulder to cry on

Working hours:

A manager oversees the whole football club and will know everything that is going on. A manager’s job is never done.

The Winners Challenge:

You will receive advice and guidance from Neil Warnock during a QPR training session which you will use to put together a new team strategy for QPR FC - maybe a new formation with key details on why it will work, utilising the players at your disposal. You will also get to sit in the QPR dugout for a live game.

NEIL WARNOCK MANAGER

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TOP 5 TIPS FOR WANNABE FOOTBALL MANAGERS

1. Man Management – Handling all situations relating to players on and off the field, both professional and personal.

2. Team selection – Balance is vital. Not every team has the best players in every department but the right mix of talents, positions, temperament and personalities is vital.

3. Tactical awareness – In the modern game this is very important. Formations need to be flexible especially as they can win or more importantly, lose games. The use of substitutes are very relevant in this scene too. The seven players on the bench must be capable of influencing a game.

4. Coaching – Team patterns and the ability to change the flow of the game is also important to a teams comfort on the field. The individuals within the team have to be confident and comfortable with their own individual abilities so individual coaching is VERY important.

5. Winning mentality – Breeding a winning mentality into individuals and the whole squad is very important. A team is as strong as its weakest players. Players get mental strength from each other so it follows that if the squad is strong, the team will be strong.

Venue: Queens Park Rangers FC – Loftus Road, London

I joined Sky Sports in 1997, after graduating from Durham University in 1996 with a degree in Geology. During my time at University, I did plenty of vacation work at BBC North West in Manchester where I gained an insight into all aspects of TV & radio broadcasting. It goes without

saying, I’m a passionate sport and football fan.Initially, I began working with the golf department at Sky as a production junior and moved to Football as an assistant producer in 2000. In the last eleven years, I’ve worked on all of Sky’s football output including The Champions League, Premier League and International Football. I was promoted to the role of associate producer in 2003 and became the Producer of the Football League in 2009. As the producer, I have overall editorial control over a live programme, I’ll select relevant guests and oversee the various features and interviews played out around the game.

JOB TITLE: TV PRODUCER

Brief description:

Key skills:

A TV producer is in charge of the whole programme from the first idea to the final edit. You decide what makes the show and what gets cut, what gets said and what doesn’t. But with power comes responsibility and if the show is a nightmare you have to take the flak. A TV producer will be in charge of all the action… “ACTION!”.

Planning Thinking outside of the box Communicating Multi-tasking – you must think like a presenter, journalist, editor and researcher

Main responsibilities:

Organising all filming Hiring ‘behind-the-scenes’ staff – freelancers are key Speaking to TV stations Planning projects Keeping a calm head when those around you lose theirs

Working hours:

Working hours will depend on match times and filming schedules. Working from planning stages, where ideas are paper only, until they hit the screen and the director calls ‘cut’.

The Winner’s Challenge:

You will spend two days with our producer. On the first day you will visit a game and watch the filming, learning the role before being set a challenge of coming up with a new TV show segment. On your second day you will assist the producer in filming your new football segment that you have created, possibly interviewing the local players of that team.

BILLY MCGINTY TV PRODUCER

Blog:Venue: Football League Club Venue

1. Gain as much industry experience as possible, through work experience and placements, find out how the business works, understand all the roles involved and what goes into making a programme.

2. Persevere. Be prepared to take some knocks along the way; it may take a while to get your opportunity but when it comes, you must make the most of it.

3. Know your subject. Use every media outlet to maintain and improve your knowledge of the game; reading a report or feature in a newspaper may generate an idea which could be transformed to work on TV.

4. Enhance and improve your teamwork and leadership skills by getting involved with clubs and societies.

5. Be organised and prepared. Much of a TV producer’s work is done before match day, be thorough in your research, and in the words of Southampton manager Nigel Adkins, “Control the controllables!”

TOP 5 TIPS FOR WANNABE TV PRODUCERS:

Darren Wassall, 42, featured over 120 times for the Rams in his playing career.He joined Derby County in the summer of 1992 from local

rivals Nottingham Forest and soon gained a reputation as a reliable defender. He was also a member of the side that won promotion to the Premier League under Jim Smith in 1996. Wassall left the Rams in 1997 to join Birmingham City.He played under Derby County manager Nigel Clough at Burton Albion, before hanging up his boots in 2005.Wassall then turned his attentions to coaching and was involved in the youth set-up at the Pirelli Stadium, before re-joining Derby in the summer of 2009 as Academy Coach.

JOB TITLE: COACH

Brief description:

Key skills:

A football coach is in charge of the nuts and bolts, keeping the team a well oiled machine while honing their skills to make them champions.

Organisation Getting your point across clearly but forcefully Managing players and their expectations Solving problems Motivating a team – you’re chief cheerleader

Main responsibilities:

Keeping intensity high when enthusiasm is low Ensuring the team know each other inside out and squabbles are sorted Solving problems with the insight of Einstein Supporting the first team coaching staff Inventing new training routines and player formations – a tactical wizard

Working hours:

A coach is always right in the heart of the action, constantly monitoring the team’s performance during the matches, so working hours fit around training schedules and match days.

The Winner’s Challenge:

You will shadow and analyse a first-team training session with Derby County’s academy coach. An academy coach is in charge of training the academy team – your challenge will be putting together a new training strategy getting the players into shape. You will test your communication skills when you present your ideas to the Derby County academy coach.

DARREN WASSALL ACADEMY COACH

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TOP 5 TIPS FOR WANNABE ACADEMY COACHES:

1. You have to be inspirational. For most footballers, you are their first coach and many great players have placed great credit on their academy managers and their first coaches.

2. Get your qualifications done early. You can start these in your teens with local football clubs and leisure centres, so find out from your local teams how best to achieve these.

3. Get experience. Teaching kids is a great way to start your career and there are some amazing initiatives abroad which allow you to teach youngsters, particularly in America.

4. Watch a lot of football. But don’t just watch it, really analyse it. Read columns in newspapers and listen to pundits. Learn from your peers and take every bit of advice on board. Live for football and your passion will rub off on the kids you are coaching.

5. A determination to succeed and a competitive edge goes a long way. Brian Clough was one of the country’s greatest coaches and he was a sore loser. Most great coaches are. Ambition, drive and will to succeed often leads to success.

Venue: Derby County FC – Pride Park

Sasa played football in a very successful women’s team in Slovakia until she was 19. Realising she had reached her

personal maximum as a player, she followed a suggestion from her uncle and tried refereeing; her uncle was an international referee for many years and saw the great potential ahead for female officials.Sasa started refereeing at 20 and steadily progressed through the domestic men’s competitions in Slovakia, reaching the 2nd Division as a referee. Sasa was nominated for the international list of referees in 2001. During her international career, she refereed the final of the Women’s European Championship in 2005 and the Women’s Champions League Final in 2008, as well as the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final in 2008 and the European U-19 Women’s Final in 2003. With the Women’s World Cup being held this year, her ultimate goal of refereeing at the top women’s football event might be within reach.When Sasa moved to live in England in 2005, a whole new football world opened to her. She managed to get appointed to the National List of Assistant Referees in 2007 and since then, has been involved in top professional football games for the npower Football League. Sasa admits that every game is a challenge but she enjoys refereeing more than ever before.

JOB TITLE: REFEREE

Brief description:

Key skills:

Some say the hardest job of all, refereeing a game is not just about abiding by a set of rules but controlling players, fans and managers. Courage in your convictions and the diplomacy of the Prime Minister is a must.

Getting your point across clearly but forcefully Integrity and the courage of your convictions Learning from your mistakes – we all make them The concentration of a fighter pilot Physical fitness – some refs run as far as a player

Main responsibilities:

Making sure all rules are enforced Telling the difference between a dangerous and perfect tackle Know the game and learn from it, then you can empathise with the players Getting that all important decision right – you might be the difference between victory and defeat.

Working hours:

Referees meet officials before each game to prepare, also attending training and assessments between matches. Working hours are flexible but a referee will need to train in their spare time to keep fit enough to keep up with the players and stay amongst the action.

The Winner’s Challenge:

After watching and learning from our Football League referee, you will help referee a training session. You will then sit in the dugout at a live Football League match and test your decisions against those the professional referee makes.

SASA IHRINGOVA FOOTBALL LEAGUE REFEREE

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TOP 5 TIPS FOR WANNABE REFEREES:

1. Give it a go! Enrol in a basic referee’s course and you will learn everything you need to know to referee a football game.

2. Get in touch with your local refereeing community who will help and support you.

3. Watch football games and learn from experienced referees.4. Keep fit.5. Be strong, persevere and enjoy the challenges.

Venue: TBC

John studied Industrial Design at college but decided to leave after two years, halfway through the course and went to work as a photographer on local newspapers in Essex.

After working there for two years, John then joined Action Images in 1991 as a trainee photographer. Processing film, printing and filing etc….John has been there ever since, working his way up to be a photographer, then finally chief photographer. John has covered four World Cups, four European Championships and several Olympics - along with over ten major footballing finals, including the FA Cup final and Champions League finals.

JOB TITLE: SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER

Brief description:

Key skills:

Intense concentration for 90 minutes is vital as you look to capture that game-defining moment. You need to think about light, weather and the tone of the match to encapsulate a game in an awe-inspiring picture perfect for Sunday’s back pages.

Photography! Technical skills in editing and printing photos A keen interest in the media and current events High levels of concentration and quick reactions Creativity and an ability to think outside the box

Main responsibilities:

Summing up a match in one image Showing the people at home what they missed Developing a great relationship with the media so they choose your image over everyone else’s

Working hours:

Sports photographers are freelance so they can choose how many matches they want to photograph and how much time they spend editing so it is flexible and can be combined with other jobs.

The Winner’s Challenge:

You will assist a sports photographer at the npower Championships Play Offs, learning the tricks of the trade and how to capture the perfect sports shot. As your challenge, you will take a photo at the match that will be published in national kids’ newspaper First News.

JOHN SIBLEY SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER

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TOP 5 TIPS FOR WANNABE SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHERS:

1. Get a portfolio together. This is one of the fundamental things you need and will be the first thing anyone will ask for when you apply for a job.

2. Know what makes a good photograph. Research photographs in newspapers, magazines, books, posters etc. All these different mediums all carry different styles of photography which you will need to be able to produce to meet your client’s needs.

3. Know your subject. Know the major players in the event you’re photographing. Know the story behind the game and why it’s a story. Know the rules, so you can spot incidents as they happen. This way, you have more chance of getting that decisive image.

4. Be prepared. Make sure all you gear works, all your batteries are charged and you have all the memory cards you need for the job. Lots of sports photography is outdoors and in England, this means in the cold and rain.

5. Be prepared to work. This job isn’t nine to five! You might be needed to work for 20 hours, do two or three jobs a day and you’re on call 24 hours a day.

Venue:

Brian Rogers used to be the team coach driver at Crystal Palace. Steve Coppell asked him whether he would like to

join the club as reserve team kit manager for the club and he has now been at Palace for 12 years. His duties include being based at the training ground all week and then at the home and away games at weekends. Away from home, he travels up with the squad and then, on the day of the match, his work begins: he goes to the ground first thing in the morning to lay the kit out so, when he arrives for the game, everything is ready for the big kick-off. For home games, he puts the kit out in the dressing room on the day before a game so that the scene is set ready for the big day. Then, on the morning of the match, he goes down and makes sure all the final preparation work is done; pumping up the balls, getting the warm up kit ready etc. Then he waits for the boys to arrive for the game.

JOB TITLE: KIT MANAGER

Brief description:

Key skills:

Ever heard your PE teacher bellow ‘Look Smart, Play Smart’? Never a truer word has been said and it is up to the kit m anager to send the players out looking like champions. Of course, they’ll always come back caked in mud but we can leave the boot scrubbing and kit washing to the youth team. Don’t forget your French maestro’s snood!

Organisation Attention to detail Creativity – a flair for fashion! Communication Managing the youth team boot cleaners

Main responsibilities:

Ensuring shirts are tucked in, socks are pulled up and jewellery is stowed away Getting those shirts filthy shirts squeaky clean Keeping an eye on the latest trends – sandals over socks, socks above the knees and of course, the snood for winter months!

Laying out the kit so all the players have to worry about is scoring that all important goal

Working hours:

A kit manager works around the team’s training sessions and match days, making sure all equipment is ready for use.

The Winner’s Challenge:

You will shadow our kit manager the day before match day, learning the importance of this role. Your challenge will be to design a new kit for the team taking into account all that you have learned.

BRIAN ROGERS KIT MANAGER

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TOP 5 TIPS FOR WANNABE KIT MANAGERS:

1. You have to remember that you are in a privileged position in the dressing room. You hear things and say nothing.

2. Good planning is key to the job. Always be prepared and one step ahead.3. Nowadays, all players have squad numbers so remember to always have

the correct names and numbers on the shirts before the players take the field.

4. It’s not just about match day: a kit man must remember that training is every day of the week and all training kit has to be ready right down to the academy age groups.

5. You need to flexible with your working hours and often prepared to work long weeks.

Venue: Crystal Palace FC – Selhurst Park, London

Kate graduated in 1999 with a degree in sports therapy and then graduated with a MSc in sports and exercise medicine in 2007. She is now completing an MSc in football

rehabilitation, which she is due to complete in August 2011. She has been working in football since 2003, with three years in semiprofessional football. Kate joined Swindon Town five seasons ago, working with their youth and centre of excellence and now with the first team. She has 11 years of experience working in sport. Kate is currently head of sports therapy and physiotherapy for the English ice hockey association and up until this season, was sports therapist for the England under 16 ice hockey team. She has worked with Great Britain women’s ice hockey at tournaments and also has worked in rugby for 10 years. In 2004, she started work as a university lecturer at London Metropolitan University and then in 2008 joined University of Gloucestershire as a senior lecturer in sports therapy. Kate left there in October 2010.

JOB TITLE: SPORTS THERAPIST

Brief description:

Key skills:

Sports therapists take care of all the players in a football team keeping them in tip-top condition - from diagnosing broken metatarsals and torn cruciate ligaments, to giving the post-game rub down. Therapists in the past have saved the careers and at times, lives of the players so your role is one of the most important ones. Also, someone needs to keep that ice bath nice and cold.

Degree in sports therapy Fascination with the workings of the human body A strong stomach upon witnessing a bad injury Great hands for those all important massages Quick thinking and a caring attitude

Main responsibilities:

Diagnosing injuries Coming up with treatment plans and schedules Treating injured players stricken on the field Advising on weird and wonderful new-age treatments Liaising with the team doctor and consultants

Working hours:

Working hours are dependent on match times and training sessions, as a sports therapist works closely with the players and coach to make sure that any injuries are treated quickly and effectively.

The Winner’s Challenge:

You will spend a day assisting our sports therapist, watching the medical team attend to injured players and learning how a sports therapist diagnoses injuries, puts together rehabilitation plans and gets players back to full fitness. You will then put together a training and rehabilitation plan for an injured player at Swindon Town FC.

KATE CADY SPORTS THERAPIST

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TOP 5 TIPS FOR WANNABE SPORTS THERAPISTS:

1. Be prepared to work unsociable hours and a lot of them. You have to be at a players beck and call, especially in emergency situations.

2. Good interpersonal skills. I am in close contact with players and staff every day in often awkward and painful situations so I need to be good with people.

3. To experience different sports rather than just focus on one, as this gives you more exposure to different injuries.

4. To get yourself out there and get lots of experience in the job. So many industries need therapists and physios, so start young. There are thousands of non-league clubs that are often happy to have a therapist assistant.

5. To undertake lots of continuous professional development after you graduate. Get your qualifications and you will succeed.

Venue: Swindon Town FC – The County Ground

As the sports editor at First News, Ian has two pages of sport to put together each week. The back page reports general sports news, while the inside back page usually

includes interviews with sports stars or reports that First News readers have written. Since Ian is the only person on the sports desk, he has to be able to cover everything from darts and snooker through to gymnastics, football, skiing and wrestling. Whether that’s reporting on the week’s major sports stories or interviewing David Beckham, Ian covers the whole world of sport. Ian started out in the media with a week of work experience at a men’s magazine, but his first long-term job was as a music journalist on Smash Hits magazine, interviewing everyone from Girls Aloud and McFly to Sean Paul and Jennifer Lopez. Ian has been at First News ever since it launched in 2006, covering sport, science and computer games.

JOB TITLE: PRINT JOURNALIST

Brief description:

Key skills:

A print journalist reports on all news stories within the football industry for newspapers and magazines - from match reports to player interviews, fascinating features to interesting statistics. They attend matches come rain or shine and have to get their copy over to the editor seconds after the final whistle.

Writing, excellent spelling and punctuation Engaging an audience through the written word Strong interview techniques Punctuality and ability to always meet deadlines

Main responsibilities:

Researching stories and finding the most interesting angles Coming up with insightful questions for players and managers Writing accurate, original and engrossing accounts of matches to deadline with no mistakes – do you know the difference between there, their and they’re?

Working hours:

Working hours are flexible and vary depending on the sports news for the day. However keep your weekends free as you will be at matches and be ready for late nights to report on that breaking story in Australia.

The Winner’s Challenge:

You will attend a Football League match with our sports journalist learning about sports reporting and meeting deadlines. You will then put together your own match report for national kids’ newspaper First News.

IAN EDDY PRINT JOURNALIST

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TOP 5 TIPS FOR WANNABE PRINT JOURNALIST:

1. Get some work experience. This is one of the most important things that you could ever do in this business.

2. Know your audience. An adult football fanatic might be happy reading a thousand-word story on the World Cup final, but if you’re writing for ten-year-olds who might not all be massive fans, 75 words and brief details would probably be enough.

3. Don’t waffle! You might think your fifty-word description of Wayne Rooney’s face is very clever, but do you really need it in your report?

4. Check your facts and spellings. Your golf report might mention that Graeme McDowell won the US Open last year, but do you spell it Graeme or Graham? And was it definitely last year and not 2008?

5. Read your work back after you’ve finished it. It’s very easy to leave mistakes or unfinished sentences in, when working to a deadline.

Venue: npower League One Play Off Finals at Old Trafford

Many dream of becoming a TV presenter from an early age. Start off at school by joining drama schools, school plays or local amateur acting groups. Maybe get some work experience with your local TV station.Then get applying to relevant courses at universities. Think

broadcast journalism, drama and performing arts or media based degrees. There are a lot of opportunities at university to start building a fantastic CV such as student radio, newspapers and magazines.While postgraduate study isn’t essential, a qualification in broadcast journalism can help and it will teach you the skills you need as a presenter as well as charisma. The skills you will need to succeed as a TV presenter are excellent communication and presenting skills, a clear voice, interesting appearance, a broad range of current affairs interests, good research and interviewing skills and creativity.Compile a DVD show reel that shows your ‘best clips.’ Most of all, get work experience, as this will get you noticed. Another way to gain experience is to pay a fee and have your details posted on websites that can help you find work. Finally, you could consider signing with an agent.

JOB TITLE: TV PRESENTER

Brief description:

Key skills:

The presenter is the face of the TV station, holding together a panel of opinionated pundits and producing a show that will capture the imagination of their audience. Match analysis is important, though often you are kick starting conversations and adding coal to the fire when things dry up.

Communication Witty and great sense of humour A statistician’s brain A genuine love of football Ability to think on your feet and react – otherwise you’ll be featured again and again on those football bloopers DVDs

Main responsibilities:

Kicking off a match and introducing main talking points Enticing interesting discussions and courting controversy Interviewing jubilant or irate players and managers Researching players and clubs – people love bizarre statistics

Working hours:

Hours will depend on match days and key events in the football calendar. One minute, you could be in freezing Hartlepool for a League 1 midweek encounter in January, the next, soaking up the sun in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.

The Winner’s Challenge:

You will spend two days with our TV presenter. On the first day you will visit a game and watch the filming, learning the role before being set a challenge of coming up with a new TV show segment. On your second day you will present your new football segment that you have created, possibly interviewing the local players of that team.

TV PRESENTER

TOP 5 TIPS FOR WANNABE TV PRESENTERS:

1. Get experience in whatever will help your CV and presenting skills. School plays and local acting clubs, to student radio and TV.

2. Practice your delivery. Talk into a mirror, a tape recorder or to a friend to make sure your delivery is clear but interesting.

3. Get creative. The more creative you are with your delivery and your approach, the more you’ll get noticed.

4. Read the newspapers. An interest in the news, current affairs and a range of topics means you could get hired in numerous roles.

5. Enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy it, you won’t make what you are presenting exciting - so make sure you love the topic you are talking about.

Venue: Football League Club Venue HOW YOU GET THERE: