St Joseph’s College is excited to reveal the revamped structure of its popular and rapidly growing football programme.
Mr Pruden, who joined the College from Ipswich Town FC, where he had been Women’s First Team Manager and Head of Education for four years, has been appointed interim Head of Football at the Ipswich independent school. Mr Pruden has extensive teaching experience, having also been Head of Department and teacher of PE at Great Cornard Middle School, Sudbury.
Now spearheading football provision at St Jo’s, he has been reunited with Cole Skuse, Town’s vice-captain. Mr Skuse will be working at the College in the afternoons during games sessions and after school practice and matches. This is the first stage of a joint initiative between the College and ITFC, which will focus on Dual Career and career development opportunities for the clubs’ professional players.
Mr O’Riordan, Director of Business Development & Director of Sport at St Joseph’s College said: ‘For some time, we have been building familiarity with the concept of dual career among our students, staff and stakeholders. The term describes the College’s ambition and ability to channel elite student athletes in such a way that they are able to blend and manage a first-class education with outstanding training and playing opportunities.
‘It has long been my belief that our elite student athletes need to prepare for a future beyond the playing of sport. There is no better example of this than Mr Emery – a former student of St Jo’s, England 7s representative and Championship rugby player with Coventry – who has returned to the College to coach our current student athletes.
‘By adding Mr Skuse’s experience to the Sport faculty we underpin still further the multiple opportunities that young people have within professional sport whilst refocusing the importance of academic, vocational and life experiences.’
Mr Pruden added, ‘I am delighted to have Cole joining us as we look to build on our existing football provision and really push the programme forward. He is a very well-respected figure at Ipswich Town and this is further evidence of our close working relationship with the club. Cole will bring a wealth of experience from the professional game and will be able to share unique insights on what it takes to achieve at an elite level both on and off the pitch. As a current player who has already shown a great passion for this role, he will act as an inspiration to our students.’
Mr Skuse said, ‘I am very much looking forward to working with the footballing talent at St Jo’s, offering the students my experiences as a current professional player to help them develop and nurture their footballing skills, ambition and talent. I hope to make a valuable contribution to the exciting football provision in place and forthcoming at the College. I am hugely grateful for the opportunity and look forward to working alongside Mr Pruden and Mr O’Riordan.’
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