What Does a Visit from a Professional Football Club Mean for Sixth Form Students?

This week, John Leggott College welcomed Andrew Sharp, Head of Coaching at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, to campus for an afternoon session with our student footballers. It was the kind of afternoon that reminds you exactly why sport at sixth form is about so much more than winning games.

Andrew gave his time generously, working directly with JLC's players, sharing his expertise and putting them through their paces in a session that combined technical coaching with the kind of insight only someone working at the highest level of the professional game can offer. 

For students preparing for the 2026/27 AOC Sport campaign, the timing could not have been better.

Who Is Andrew Sharp and Why Does His Visit Matter?

Andrew Sharp is Head of Coaching at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, one of the most historic clubs in English football. Sheffield Wednesday have played at Hillsborough since 1899 and have a long tradition of developing talent at every level of the game.

Having someone of Andrew's professional standing visit JLC is not just a good afternoon for the players involved. It is a signal of the kind of partnerships the college is building, and the kind of opportunities those partnerships create for students who are serious about football and about what the sport can offer them beyond their time at sixth form.

For a group of young players who are developing their skills alongside their studies, being coached by someone who works at Championship level every day brings a perspective that cannot be replicated in a standard training session.

What Did the Session Involve?

Andrew worked directly with JLC's footballers, combining hands-on coaching with professional insight into what development looks like at the top end of the game. The session was designed to challenge the players, push their understanding of the game and give them a taste of the standards and expectations that exist within a professional environment.

Beyond the technical and tactical work on the pitch, the visit gave students the chance to ask questions, engage with a professional coach and begin to understand what a career pathway within football might actually look like. That kind of exposure matters at this stage of a young player's development, when many are still working out whether sport could be part of their future, and in what capacity.

JLC's sport programme is built around exactly this kind of opportunity, combining competitive football with the enrichment and professional development experiences that help students grow both as players and as people.

How Has the Football Programme Performed This Season?

As the current season draws to a close, JLC's football programme reflects on another year of strong development and competition through AOC Sport, the national body that organises sport competitions for further education colleges across England.

AOC Sport provides sixth form and college students with access to competitive sport at local, regional and national level, giving talented young athletes a structured pathway to test themselves against the best players at colleges across the country. For JLC's footballers, the AOC campaign is a core part of the season, and preparations for the 2026/27 campaign are already underway.

A session with a professional coaching lead like Andrew Sharp is exactly the kind of preparation that can sharpen a squad's focus heading into a new season. The standards of the professional game are a benchmark. Working with someone who operates within those standards every day gives players a clearer sense of what they are working towards.

What Does the Sheffield Wednesday Partnership Look Like Going Forward?

The relationship between John Leggott College and Sheffield Wednesday is one that both parties are committed to developing. Alongside Andrew's visit to campus, JLC has received an invitation to visit Sheffield Wednesday's training ground later in the year, giving students the chance to see a professional football environment from the inside.

Visits like this are genuinely valuable. Seeing where professional players train, meeting the staff who support them day to day and understanding how a professional club operates gives students a context for their own ambitions that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom or on a college pitch.

For students who are considering a career in football, whether as a player, a coach, a sports scientist, a physio or in any of the many roles that exist within a professional club, a visit to a Championship training ground is the kind of experience that sharpens aspiration and makes the pathway feel real and achievable.

Why Do Professional Partnerships Matter for College Sport?

At John Leggott College, the belief is that sport at sixth form should do more than provide a competitive outlet. It should open doors.

Partnerships with professional clubs, coaches and organisations give students access to expertise, environments and networks that extend well beyond what a standard college sport programme can offer. 

They help students understand that the skills they are developing, physically, technically and personally, are valued in the real world. And they demonstrate that the gap between college sport and professional sport, while significant, is a gap that hard work, good coaching and the right opportunities can help to close.

For students on the AOC Sport pathway at JLC, whether their ambitions lie in playing, coaching, sport science, sports journalism or sports management, these professional connections are part of what makes the programme worth investing in.

Find Out More About Sport at JLC

John Leggott College offers a wide range of sport opportunities for students, including competitive football through the AOC Sport programme, enrichment activities, and links to professional clubs and organisations across the region and beyond.

To find out more about sport at JLC, visit the Sport Opportunities page at leggott.ac.uk. For information about studying at John Leggott College and applying for September 2026, visit leggott.ac.uk or apply directly at cedar.leggott.ac.uk/apply.

A huge thank you to Andrew Sharp and Sheffield Wednesday for giving their time to our students. We look forward to continuing this partnership and to the visit to the training ground later in the year.

FAQ Section

Who visited John Leggott College for the football session?

Andrew Sharp, Head of Coaching at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, visited JLC this week to work directly with the college's student footballers, sharing his expertise and delivering a coaching session focused on player development.

What is AOC Sport?

AOC Sport is the national body that organises competitive sport for further education colleges across England. JLC's footballers compete in the AOC Sport campaign each season, representing the college at local, regional and national level. Find out more at aoc-sport.org.

Will JLC students visit Sheffield Wednesday's training ground?

Yes. JLC has received an invitation to visit Sheffield Wednesday's training ground later in the year, giving students the opportunity to see a professional football environment and gain insight into how a Championship club operates.

How can I get involved in football at JLC?

Football is open to all students who enrol at John Leggott College. For more information about sport opportunities at JLC, visit the Sport page at leggott.ac.uk or get in touch through the Contact Us page.

What career pathways are available in football and sport?

A career in football and sport extends well beyond playing. Opportunities exist in coaching, sports science, physiotherapy, sports journalism, performance analysis, sports management and more. JLC's sport programme and professional partnerships help students understand and access these pathways from an early stage.