Making Every Opportunity Count: Ashley March’s GIS Journey

A combination of internships, industry events, practical experiences and coursework can make postgraduate study at GIS seem like a daunting prospect.

To show what student life at GIS can really look like, we caught up with recent graduate Ashley March, who took on every opportunity that came his way throughout his studies.

A New Route into Sport

After cardiac issues brought his football-playing ambitions to an end at just 18, Ashley was forced to reconsider his future. However, his passion for the game remained, and he was determined to find another way to build a career in football.

Without an undergraduate degree, Ashley discovered GIS and took the leap straight into postgraduate study, enrolling on our MSc Performance Analysis in Football programme to pursue a career in the game he, like many others, had loved since childhood.

“I still remember walking into Wembley Stadium on that first afternoon,” he recalls. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I was determined to give every last ounce of energy, effort and commitment to making it count.”

Real-World Experience

Choosing to study part-time, Ashley used the two years to involve himself in as many opportunities as he could.

These began with Mount Pleasant Football Academy, a Jamaica Premier League club and GIS partner. Ashley became a Performance and Recruitment Analyst for the club, a role that sees him produce opposition and player analyses that support the coaching staff, who recently added the CFU Club Shield to their trophy cabinet.

Mount Pleasant, however, was not the only club Ashley was supporting, as he performed similar duties for RAEC Mons, a side in the third tier of Belgian football and another GIS partner. Alongside these roles, he also worked as a First Team Scout for Exeter City, as well as Academy Performance Analysis Intern for Leyton Orient, providing Ashley key insight into football across different clubs, leagues, and continents.

GIS Global Sports Summits

To build even further on his practical experience, Ashley added two GIS Global Sports Summits to his schedule.

Held annually at GIS hubs around the world, the GIS Global Sport Summits give students the chance to develop their professional skills, connect with industry leaders and experience some of the world’s leading sporting venues. 

Ashley attended summits in both London and Miami, visiting Wembley Stadium, Stamford Bridge and Miami Arena while connecting with industry professionals at dedicated networking events.

Working With GIS

Ashley also took on several roles with us at GIS, including two internships with our recruitment team where he shared his experiences with prospective students looking to follow a similar path. This included returning to his former secondary school to speak about his journey.

He also played an active role in several GIS events, including our most recent Welcome Week at Wembley Stadium where new students heard from Mark Bullingham, CEO of The FA.

Demonstrating the Courage and Innovation at the core of our EPICC values, Ashley then launched his own initiative. This is the Global Student Network, a community that enables students to share job opportunities, promote events and connect with one another as they together build their careers in sport.

The Start of a Career in Sport

Now a GIS graduate, Ashley leaves with practical experience, valuable industry connections and a clearer vision for his future in sport.

“I’m absolutely over the moon to have official confirmation that I will be graduating,” he said in a recent LinkedIn post.

“Looking back, the experience has given me so much more than an academic qualification. 

“My journey with Global Institute of Sport has helped me grow both professionally and personally, opening doors to opportunities and experiences I could only have hoped for when I started.

“Along the way, I’ve also had countless opportunities to connect with inspiring people across the industry, learn from their experiences and gain a clearer understanding of where I want my career to go.

“When I made that decision in 2024, I knew it was a risk. There were uncertainties, challenges and plenty of moments that pushed me outside my comfort zone.

“Taking that leap has changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined two years ago, and I’m incredibly proud of how far I’ve come.” 

Article by Zakaria Anani