St Joseph’s College student, Sophie Peskett, has signed a contract to become the first professional women’s player in the history of Ipswich Town Football Club.
Sophie explained ‘Being at St Joseph’s College has really helped me to develop as a player and a person. The facilities available, the expert support from staff and the way in which my course was structured, all of this allowed me to focus on my football alongside my studies. I’ve been able to really develop my game through opportunities to practise, 1-2-1 sessions in the gym with St Jo’s Strength and Conditioning Coach together with on-pitch training and the different playing experiences of College fixtures. I feel I am a far more confident person now than when I joined the College and have really enjoyed being in this environment and part of the St Jo’s community.’.
Mr Pruden, Head of Football at St Joseph’s College, said ‘It is a huge statement of intent from Ipswich Town to offer their first professional contract to a female player and we are thrilled to have been able to support Sophie to achieve this. She has been an outstanding student both on and off the pitch, achieving top grades in her studies whilst displaying an outstanding work ethic in her training. This is a well-deserved reward and I know she feels very proud to be continuing her career with the club whilst embarking on her university studies.
‘This is also a great success for the St Jo’s football programme and perfectly illustrates our ethos of providing an environment in which aspiring young athletes can achieve their very best in a dual career. Through St Joseph’s College’s ongoing partnership with Ipswich Town, I am sure that Sophie will be the first of many to have such success.’
Mr O’Riordan, St Joseph’s College Director of Business Development and Sport, stated, ‘St Joseph’s College has a proud history of supporting student athletes through education and into professional sport. We champion a dual career approach, helping our students reach their full potential as elite athletes, whilst fully preparing for their future careers.
‘Sophie and her female footballing peers have blazed a trail for female sport here at St Joseph’s College. She has combined performing in the fourth round of the FA Cup campaign of 2019-20 season with ITFC, with studying sports science and training and playing for the College team, which this year became the Independent Schools Football Association U18 seven-a-side national champions.
‘St Joseph’s College community is extremely proud of Sophie. This day marks a poignant and ground-breaking date in the history of St Jo’s Sport’
To find out more about our football programme then please visit our admissions page.
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