Chloe Qiao
On March 31, I had the valuable opportunity to watch the Swansea City FC U21 vs. Burnley U21 match from the media section at Swansea.com Stadium.
With first-half goals from Morgan Bates and Jacob Cook, along with three brilliant saves from 18-year-old Welsh goalkeeper Kit Margetson, the Swans secured a 2-0 home victory. This win moved them up to seventh place in the Southern Division. Their next match will be an away fixture against Colchester U21 on April 4.
Beyond the game itself, I had three key takeaways from this experience:
First, this was my first time watching a football game from a media perspective rather than as a fan. I prepared background information on the teams and players beforehand, observed tactical changes during the game, and stayed ready to note down insightful questions for potential interviews. This gave me a deeper understanding of the role of a football journalist on match day.
Second, I had the chance to connect with professionals in the football industry. I met Jet Shen, an assistant coach intern in the club’s academy performance team. Through our conversation, I learned about player performance data collection, daily training routines, recovery sessions and nutrition plans.
For example, a sports performance assistant coach collects the player’s physical data through the receiver, including running distance, accelerated running distance, etc., and provides a report to the head coach after each training session and game. Technical data such as shots and saves are taken care of by another assistant coach. In addition, the team will have a psychology coach, who is responsible for the mental health of the team from the ladder to the first team.
Technical data collector
He also shared research findings on the physical advantages and disadvantages of players from different ethnic backgrounds. This will be valuable for my future studies, including my ongoing analysis of media coverage on Asian footballers. Additionally, as someone who works closely with players and staff, Jet shared some interesting behind-the-scenes stories. For instance, the opinions of the team’s staff regarding the former coach, Luke Williams.If I pursue a career in sports journalism, I know that having reliable inside sources will be crucial (of course, I won’t report everything I hear! ).
Lastly, I met Sophie Davis, a presenter for Swansea City FC TV. Since Dr. Joe had recommended her work during one of our discussions last semester, I was already familiar with her interviews. This time, I recognized her right away and introduced myself. She also shared valuable insights about interviewing players, which I found incredibly helpful. It was a great networking opportunity as well.
Overall, this experience gave me a more practical understanding of live match reporting, performance data analysis, and the roles of club staff.
Finally, I sincerely appreciate the support and guidance from Dr. Joe, Dr. Hannah, and Rachel. I hope to have more opportunities to connect with the industry in the future.