Students score first-ever win at Hampshire FA Media Projects Programme awards

Southampton Solent University students have picked up top honours at this year's Hampshire FA Media Projects Programme awards, marking the first time the University has taken home a win in the competition.

Harvey Gerring and Samuel Faris-Clark, both third-year BA (Hons) Sports Journalism students, were recognised for their promotional video showcasing Hampshire FA's walking football community sessions.

The pair collected their award on stage at the GoCardless Grassroots Football Awards Ceremony in August, judged by a panel of external industry representatives including SuperReel Productions, Graham Scambler Photography and a representative from The FA.

Working directly with Hampshire FA and its Marketing and Communications Manager, Denis Brzozowski, the pair produced a video case study and accompanying social media clips promoting the organisation's Walking Football Coffee & Cake Sessions, gaining valuable real-world media experience in the process.

The finished piece focuses on the sessions themselves and the benefits walking football can bring, not just physically but socially too. To capture this, Harvey and Samuel interviewed Kel Crook, who organises the initiative, along with participants at an event hosted at the King George V Football Complex in Portsmouth.

Speaking after the win, Denis Brzozowski, Hampshire FA's Marketing and Communications Manager and mentor to the group, said he was thrilled to see the students recognised for their work:

"I was thrilled as their mentor to see the group on stage at the annual Hampshire FA awards ceremony in August rightfully accepting their award. Hampshire FA continues to be a thriving county for walking football as this format of the game continues to be in high demand. This media project will further contribute to the development and sustainability of the game, promoting the health benefits of the sport and the opportunities available to play recreationally.

"We’re also excited to see the students fully utilise their skills, knowledge and expertise and apply this directly to real-world client briefs. The Hampshire FA Media Projects Programme continues to attract new students, universities and internally, new projects from our own team. We can proudly announce that all deliverables produced from this programme have been integrated into seasonal campaigns and media schedules, effectively promoting all areas of our work."

In an interview at the award ceremony with Hampshire FA, Harvey and Samuel spoke about their win and what the project meant to them. Harvey said:

"It was an honour to win the award and I'm proud as we both worked incredibly hard on the case study, both filming and editing the piece. It provided valuable real-world work experience which will contribute to building a career in this industry once we graduate. To see hundreds of people watching our case study at the Hampshire FA Grassroots award ceremony is a definite highlight of my career so far."

Samuel said watching their video at the award ceremony was a standout moment. "Halfway through I was sort of looking at it, thinking like it's like 200 people looking at this. I'm like, oh, I can't believe it."

The video the pair produced is set to play an ongoing role in communicating the benefits of walking football to the local community. Reflecting on the impact of their work, Harvey added: "I just hope that somebody goes and does walking football now really, because it's kind of, I don't know about you, Sam, but when we were there, I kind of wanted to get involved, to be honest."

Samuel said the social side of the sessions stood out to him as much as the football itself. "It was definitely a really fun vibe. And everyone there clearly really enjoys it. And just like, especially the social side, more so than the actual football I found. So if that's used to get more people to go down and enjoy it, that's a great thing."

The win reflects the practical, industry-facing approach at the heart of Solent's teaching. Every course at the university is being redesigned around employability, real-world skills and confidence, with practice-led learning embedded into every module so students gain hands-on experience from day one. Live briefs with real employers, like the one delivered for Hampshire FA, give students a chance to apply what they learn directly to client work and build a portfolio before they graduate.

Photography courtesy of Graham Scambler.