Oli's Story | Post-16 Pathways in Doncaster

Oli, 10 from Doncaster has recently finished his post-16 journey and is about to embark on his next steps, with a role at Doncaster Rovers, whilst also starting a Degree! Here's Oli's story..

From a young age, Oli knew football was his passion — but during his GCSEs, he wasn’t sure how to turn that passion into a career. He also had to take a step back from playing sports after being diagnosed with a spinal condition.

A conversation changed everything. Oli was told about Club Doncaster Sports College, and as a lifelong Doncaster Rovers fan, it felt like the perfect fit. He enrolled and has just completed a Level 3 qualification in Sports Coaching and Development.

Before joining the college, Oli had no formal experience working in football and decided to gain a bit of volunteer experience. Now, at just 18, he’s the Lead Academy Performance Analyst for the U9–U16 teams — and sometimes works alongside the first team. He’s about to begin a degree in Physical Education and Sports Coaching through Club Doncaster, with ambitions to complete a master’s and stay with the club long term.

“The job can be intense, but so rewarding - it’s the best in the world,” Oli says. “Do something you love — every industry has more career opportunities than you might realise. It’s just about trying something out to see if it’s the right fit”.