University of Greenwich Partnership Day celebrations with Charlton Athletic

University of Greenwich Partnership Day celebrations with Charlton Athletic

The annual University of Greenwich Day celebrating the University’s partnership with Charlton Athletic and Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) took place at Charlton’s game against Swansea City on Wednesday 2 October.

The event celebrated the successful partnership that provides opportunities for University of Greenwich students. At half-time, 5 alumni took on 5 current students in a penalty shootout. The alumni came out victorious, beating the current students 5-3.  One of the alumni, who successfully converted a penalty, was Naomi Reid, who plays for CACT Invicta. Speaking about the evening,

Naomi said: “It was an unbelievable experience, scoring a penalty in front of over 15,000 fans is something I’ll never forget. Since joining CACT Invicta, I’ve seen the outreach and work in the community CACT does and it’s incredible. “On a personal level, after coming out as transgender, I thought I wouldn’t be able to play football again. But the level of diversity and inclusion promoted by Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) and Invicta meant that I didn’t have to give up the sport I love. “The partnership with the University of Greenwich really helps spread that ethos. It gives students an amazing opportunity to have access to the exceptional facilities and people that work at CACT and the club. As a Greenwich graduate, I had some great years studying at the Maritime Campus, and Wednesday brought everything pleasantly full circle.”

Successful partnership for many years 

Employability is important to the students of Greencwich students and they continually work with organisations to create opportunities for the  students that will set them apart from other graduates. Charlton Athletic are one organisation that, owing to a shared belief in the power of sport, Greenwich University  have successfully partnered with for many years. Through this partnership they are able to share expertise, research and facilities in addition to developing internships, employment and other opportunities for students.

Charlton Athletic Football Club operates a highly-successful youth academy that has a history of producing players that progress through the development system to play at first-team level, our students get to work alongside these players, potentially supporting the development of the football stars of the future.