The third recipient of the Portsmouth Football Club Scholarship is Maddie Long.
The scholarship is intended to assist young Portsmouth residents pursuing higher education. It is the outcome of a collaboration between Pompey and the University of Portsmouth and provides £3,000 in funding for each year of a three-year program.
To be eligible to apply, a person must be the first in their family to attend college and/or come from a household with an annual income of less than £35,000.
During the duration of the scholarship, Maddie will receive financial support in addition to the chance to work directly with the club in order to obtain first-hand work experience.
Maddie, who is from Bognor Regis, resides in Portsmouth in order to pursue her education. She enrolled in the University’s four-year Sport, Health, and Exercise Sciences (Dual Degree) BSc program last month. During her third year of study, she will live and study at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia.
She will be working with the group out of the Pompey Health and Fitness Club training area. Her initial role will be to observe the sport science team of the club, but she intends to grow her involvement with the club in addition to her academic pursuits.
Maddie will be using the financial support this year to support her accommodation fees, with the £3,000 from the club contributing almost half of her costs for the year.
“I never thought I’d get a scholarship, and I was just shaking when I got the call,” the woman stated. Receiving this scholarship will have a profound impact on my life.
In addition to giving me the chance to demonstrate my academic prowess as a diligent learner, it will enable me to advance into higher education in a manner that would not be possible without it.
“Hopefully, this will help me secure a football career in the future. With my work, I want to help people, and this scholarship will enable me to do so.
“The money is much appreciated and will go toward paying for my accommodations this year as I don’t have the option of receiving additional financial support.
All it does is relieve my family and I of that stress. I can now pursue my future career and dreams, which largely involve attending the University of Portsmouth, thanks to this scholarship, which provides me with significant and immediate financial assistance.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth, Professor Graham Galbraith, stated: “From that perspective, it’s really exciting to be welcoming Maddie. The University is all about giving young people the opportunity to succeed.”
“This collaboration aims to encourage youth and demonstrate to them that higher education is a viable option for them.
“It’s wonderful to have the scholarship to help those who might be afraid to apply because of their financial situation, so they can come and take advantage of the opportunity, perform incredibly well, and go on to a great career.”
“The scholarship is huge and provides students with the financial support to pursue their passions,” stated Richard Hughes, director of sports.
“What really sets it apart from the money side are the unmatched opportunities that our football team can provide.
As a beneficiary of the scholarship, Maddie will not only obtain much-needed funds but also be exposed to priceless experiences that will greatly advance her professional and personal growth.
The benefits of our club’s transformational partnership with the University of Portsmouth go well beyond the scholarship program. Students benefit from the partnership by having access to opportunities and resources.
The club also gains from the new ideas and skill that the university’s students contribute. The collaboration is evidence of our dedication to developing talent and forging deep ties within our neighborhood.
In an effort to support young people in the city, the University and the club have partnered to offer the scholarship, which is now in its third year.
Past recipients have collaborated with the club on graphic design projects for the marketing division and architectural designs for a new lounge within Fratton Park.
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