Gareth Clough Reflects On the Experience of Returning to Education

Nottinghamshire player Gareth Clough, now in his final season, has just completed his first year of a BSc(Hons) in Sport, Health, Exercise and Nutrition (BSc) at Leeds Trinity and All Saints College (TASC).

The main reason for me returning to education was simply to give myself the best opportunity to get a job with good career prospects after cricket, and to make the transition from professional cricket to another career as smooth as possible. 

The last time I was in education was during my A-Levels 12 years ago, so the decision to start the degree was quite daunting, as I wasn’t sure whether I was going to settle back into writing essays and taking exams that easily.

I decided to start the degree at TASC, first and foremost because the content of the course was something that interested me. During the open day, TASC were extremely supportive and reassured me that a full-time degree was possible alongside a career in cricket.

The support I received from Nottinghamshire CCC was also a great help, as I have needed a few days off here and there since the start of the season to go to a few lectures, practicals and exams and this hasn’t been a problem.

The first year of study has gone pretty well, I have passed all the modules which means I can go on studying into the second year. Juggling study, cricket and a newborn baby has been fairly tricky, but with the right support network it has gone somewhat smoothly.

Taking myself out of the comfort zone of the dressing room and back into the classroom was quite scary, but within a few weeks of getting used to the young 18-year-olds being away from home for the first time, things became easier and I settled in nicely.

Taking on the course has definitely improved my time management. This wasn’t too much of a problem when I was at university full-time, but since the start of the season it has been vital to manage my time efficiently to be able to get essays etc. in on time. Luckily, the university has been quite lenient and on a couple of occasions has allowed me to hand in work a few days late.

I would encourage any professional cricketer to return to education, as cricket is a relatively short career and I’m only sorry I didn’t start years ago.  Before starting a degree, you need to know that the university and the club are going to support you through the course. This, in conjunction with the help we receive from the PCA through funding and the assistance available from your Performance Lifestyle Adviser, makes combining the two much easier.

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