University College Plymouth St Mark & St John

Plymouth Marjon Football Club is one of the newest members of the Plymouth Marjon Sports Club.  The club has worked very hard over a short space of time in order to provide enhanced football opportunities to both students and members of the wider community, and are currently building an infrastructure that will advocate a player-centred approach to football development and training for players of all ages, genders and abilities.

A successful student-centred BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) football development programme has been in place for a number of years, which has seen both the men’s and women’s teams achieving reasonable levels of success in their respective regional and national competitions.  Staff from the School of Sport, Physical Education and Leisure have formed strong links with the college’s Centre for Sports Development and Performance, which has enabled highly qualified staff to lead training sessions, mentor promising student coaches, and assist with coach education programmes, which has resulted in enhanced playing experiences for members of the football clubs.  The development of Futsal in recent years has culminated in the men’s team reaching the BUCS National Finals during season 2009/10, and provided further evidence of the wider approach to football development within the college.  This work has aided the football club in achieving BUCS Football Development Focus University Status for the 2009/10 season; in recognition of the positive work the college displays in contributing to developing all areas of football.

Marjon had previously entered teams into local leagues and competitions, with the women’s team enjoying a good period of success at a regional level in the mid-late 1990’s.  However, the start of the 2009/10 season saw an increased energy in linking student and community football.  The expertise of staff currently employed by the college, the enthusiasm of students to represent the college outside of student events, and a multi-million pound facilities project have driven this area of work, and provided the motivation for many members of the local football community to get involved with this exciting new project.  In addition to the 5 student football teams, the club currently oversee 1 men’s team (Plymouth & West Devon League), 1 women’s team (SW Women’s Football League) and 1 veterans team (South & West Devon Veterans League).  Talks are currently ongoing with junior football clubs, which would see the college forming their own junior boys and girls sections to compliment the existing adult teams, with a variety of traditional and non-traditional methods of player development planned in order to excite the areas next generation of football players.  The college also plan to develop the existing men’s and women’s teams in line with current facility developments so that players can access higher levels of competition where appropriate.

For further information please check out our website: Plymouth Marjon Football Club