News release Opening football research centre
16 September 2009
A new UK football research centre will be officially opened by the Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe MP, at Southampton Solent University.
The Minister will join the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Van Gore, Centre President Lawrie McMenemy MBE and Centre Director Dr Richard Elliott to launch the Lawrie McMenemy Centre for Football Research (LMCFR) on Wednesday September 16. The event will be attended by many of the game’s key stakeholders, including representatives from The Football Association, Premier League, Football League, League Managers Association, Football Foundation and professional clubs.
The LMFRC is founded on Solent University’s position as a leading provider of football related academic study.
It provides expert research and consultancy support for the football industry in a number of key areas - including management, administration, globalisation, commercialisation, foreign player involvement, fans and scientific support.
Centre President, Lawrie McMenemy, says: “I’m honoured to put my name and lend my experience to a centre that will benefit the football industry. The football industry is increasingly recognising the importance of strengthening relationships with the academic community and the expertise it offers.”
The LMCFR already has excellent links with the football industry and the Centre’s staff regularly work with the game’s key players including the Premier League, Football Association, League Managers Association, the Institute of Football Management and Administration, and professional clubs.
The LMCFR is the only Centre in the country to provide training for administrators in the professional game. The Certificate in Professional Football Management and Administration, which is run in conjunction with the Institute of Football Management and Administration (IFMA) and the League Managers Association (LMA) is the industry standard qualification. To date, representatives from the Football Association, Premier League, Football League, Football Conference and over 30 professional clubs have studied for the Certificate.
Centre Director, Dr Richard Elliott, says: “Southampton Solent University has been at the forefront of the academic study of football for many years. During that time, staff at the University have increasingly played a role in leading research and consultancy projects in the game. The Lawrie McMenemy Centre for Football Research will be a way of channelling that work and, over time, will become the first point of reference for football related education, research and consultancy for the professional industry, media, and students around the world.”
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE PRESS OFFICE ON 023 8031 9040
For further information about the LMCFR, Centre staff, and current and previous football related research projects visit http://www.solent.ac.uk/lmcfr/home.aspx||