Sports Minister and MP for Bradford South, Gerry Sutcliffe, visited The Headingley Carnegie Stadium to find out more about Leeds Metropolitan University’s sporting partnerships, particularly in women’s football.

During his visit he met with Leeds Met’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Lee, Peter Rodgers, Dean of Sporting Partnerships, and Chris Welburn, the University’s Head Coach for women’s football and Partnership Manager for Leeds United Ladies.

Leeds Met’s partnership with Leeds United Ladies FC was the first partnership of its kind between a university and a National Women’s Premier League club.

The partnership provides additional opportunities for Leeds Met students who currently play for the university’s women’s football team and a new Leeds United scholarship programme is being developed.

The partnership also provides placement opportunities for Leeds Met students and staff in areas including fitness and coaching, marketing and PR, and events management. For example, a group of events management students are currently organising a fundraising ball for Leeds United Ladies FC.

In addition, Leeds United Ladies benefit from Leeds Met’s world-class coaching and sports science facilities, as well as the university’s experts in a variety of fields, including sports performance and coaching, from Leeds Met’s Carnegie Faculty of Sport & Education.

Leeds Met’s women’s football teams are having a successful season and are both currently top of their respective inter-university BUSA leagues while Leeds United Ladies are currently enjoying a run of FA Cup success having reached the quarter finals where they will face Cardiff later this month.