Manchester City’s charity, City in the Community (CITC) sat down with a former City Degree student to speak about his time on the course and the impact it had on his life.
Luke was part of the CITC and Manchester Metropolitan University Degree course between 2022 and 2025.
At his graduation Luke was presented with the Alex Williams MBE Outstanding Contributions Award, for his commitment to the course over the three years of study.
Being part of the course allowed Luke to grow as a coach, which led to him later joining CITC as a staff member.
In the interview, Luke spoke about how the course helped him develop in his career, and as a person, as well as giving him the skills and experience to prepare him for the future.
“My time on the course was the best three years. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” he said.
“At Manchester City, you’ve got some of the best facilities in the world, and the development journey you go on as a coach and as a person is amazing.”
“Yes, it can be challenging, but at the end of the three years you’ll feel really rewarded.”
For those interested in Luke’s journey, the Degree course is currently taking UCAS applications for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Sitting under CITC’s Healthy Futures pillar, the programme brings together CITC’s community football coaching knowledge with Manchester Metropolitan’s academic expertise, providing students with the skills and experience to help them find success in coaching.
Students can take advantage of fully funded qualifications, activators, and workshops, which are built into the university timetable across the three years of learning, with further opportunities for partially funded qualifications also available.
Learners will enjoy a combined 28 weeks of placement over three years, arranged by CITC, with both Foundation and Batchelor of Science courses are available.
For more information visit: mancity.com/degree
Also, CITC has announced the launch of a brand-new Masters in Sport Coaching and Performance, developed in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University.
This new Masters degree represents the next step in CITC’s commitment to empowering healthier lives through football, building on the success of the existing City Degree programme with MMU.
Register your interest for the Masters degree here: https://bit.ly/3WPuJ5W
Support City in the Community’s work this Christmas through Manchester City’s ‘Christmas Together’ campaign.
The new ‘Christmas Together’ campaign creates an opportunity for fans to team up with the Club to support ‘City Onside’. For every purchase a fan makes from a range of selected retail items, the Club will donate £5 to its charity*.
ENTER THE CITC MONTHLY PRIZE DRAW
Manchester City is also matching any donations* made to the charity through the ‘City in the Community Prize Draw’, meaning fans can double their chances to win amazing prizes.
Entries start at £5 per ticket; supporters can enter on a one-off basis, or they can sign up to a direct debit, meaning they enter the monthly draw automatically.
To take part in the prize draw, or to find out more, visit: www.mancity.com/citcprizedraw.
For more information about ‘Christmas Together’ visit www.mancity.com/ChristmasTogether.
City in the Community empowers healthier lives through football.
To find out more, visit www.mancity.com/citc or follow @citcmancity on social media.
*MCFC will donate £5 for each product** sold and will match donations made to Manchester City F.C. City in the Community Foundation (registered charity no. 1139229) during the period of 04 November 2025 to 31 December 2025 up to a maximum of £75,000 in total. The first £150,000 raised will support City in the Community’s ‘City Onside’ programme, with any additional fundraising helping to sustain the charity’s broader purpose of empowering healthier lives with city youth through football.