RIASA: An Immersive Day in Sports Event Planning

Our Sports Event Planning and Promotion course in Leeds, recently delivered a busy and highly productive immersion day designed to bridge theory, practice, and employability within the sports industry.

Central to the day was a visit from Anthony Hall of Danby Rovers Disability Football Club; a long‑term partner of the RIASA programme. Anthony shared his professional journey and current roles across Danby Rovers, England Talent Pathways, and as a Mencap coach, offering students first‑hand insight into the realities of working in inclusive and community‑focused sport.

For students, this was not simply a guest lecture, but an opportunity to engage directly with an industry partner they are actively working with. This year’s cohort is currently planning and delivering an inclusive football tournament on 16 April, taking responsibility for event design, marketing, logistics, stakeholder engagement, and fundraising, with all proceeds supporting Danby Rovers. These are the kinds of applied skills employers consistently value: project management, teamwork, communication, and social responsibility.

A key employability highlight was the return of last year’s Event Directors, Anna Turner and Cole Souder, who reflected honestly on the challenges and successes of delivering the Unity Cup in April 2025. Their experience culminated in raising £1,500 for Danby Rovers; an achievement that led to a particularly meaningful moment: On behalf of the club’s players, Anthony presented Anna and Cole with a club‑voted award, recognising their professionalism, commitment, and impact. For current students, this provided a tangible example of what high‑quality student leadership and industry engagement can look like.

The immersion day concluded with a live event experience at the UEFA Women’s Champions League fixture between Manchester United Women and Atlético Madrid Femenino. Experiencing elite women’s professional football in situ allowed students to critically observe event operations, fan engagement, atmosphere creation, and performance contexts. A standout goal from Jess Park secured the win and a 5–0 aggregate victory, sending Manchester United Women through to a historic quarter‑final against Bayern Munich.

Taken together, the day exemplified an employability‑led approach to sports education: authentic partnerships, live projects, reflective practice, and exposure to the professional game at the highest level. These experiences do more than enhance CVs, they help students understand what it truly means to work in sport.

Dr Samantha Bracey

Associate Professor of Sports Management, Richmond International Academic and Soccer Academy