Getting the right support
Ugo Ehiogu began his career at West Bromwich Albion as a trainee, turning professional in 1989. After just a few games for Albion in the second division, Ugo joined first division Aston Villa in August 1991. He remained at the club for nine years, making over 300 appearances in all competitions before joining Middlesborough.
After this long and illustrious professional career that stemmed over 20 years, Ugo was aware it was now time to think of an alternate career path. Ugo says: “Like most players I believed you can play forever and didn’t think about what to do when you have to quit!”
Ugo knew he wanted to do something but was unsure what. Help came via the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and unionlearn. Ugo adds: “I received an email from the PFA advertising an event at the Belfry to help players make the transition from football to the workplace, so I thought let’s see what that’s about”,
The three day dissemination event included sessions on CV writing and interviewing skills and the offer of information, advice and guidance to help identify what sort of job would best suit each individual. Project workers from the PFA, funded through the Union Learning Fund (ULF), were able to discuss options with all twelve players individually and offer them courses that could be accessed via the PFA and unionlearn. As a result, Ugo identified Psychology as the educational path he would like to pursue.
Through the PFA, Ugo then made contact with the Head of Psychology at Brunel University and, together with PFA support, attended a meeting to find out more about the course and the relevant entry qualifications. Ugo discovered he would be unable to enrol on the Psychology degree course as he did not have the entry qualifications of at least two ‘A’ levels in Maths and a Science, preferably Biology.
“Hearing this news felt like a barrier had been placed before me. Not only was I unable to enrol but I would have to do another two years studying on top of a three year degree course.”
Ugo decided to explore other educational avenues available outside the A Level route. Oshor Williams at the PFA recommended a one year foundation course in Psychology on the basis it would be more appropriate for his circumstances.
As Ugo explains: “I was unaware there were requirements needed to get onto individual courses, I thought you could just find the course you wanted and enrol. But having had the discussion with Brunel, it made sense to do some sort of education before jumping onto a three year degree course! Since I hadn’t been in a class room for nearly 20 years it dawned on me that I needed some preparation before returning to education..”
Through the guidance of unionlearn and the PFA, Ugo was eventually able to find a foundation course in Psychology at Regents University in London and has embarked on a whole new career.
