Year 9 students enjoyed an inspiring and action-packed careers trip to the AMEX Stadium, home of Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion. The visit offered a fascinating insight into the wide range of careers that make a football stadium operate on and off matchday.
Students were welcomed by AMEX staff at the West Stand Reception before heading to the Hosiden Besson Lounge, where they took part in a fast-paced team challenge. This activity tested their knowledge of stadium capacities from around the world and challenged them to apply their maths skills by adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing capacity figures to solve problems.
The day continued with an interactive workshop focused on sports nutrition. Students explored the importance of diet and exercise for athletic performance, including a hands-on activity matching food and drink items to their sugar content. Many were surprised to discover the levels of natural sugars found in fruits such as pineapple and strawberries. Students also competed in a reaction-speed challenge, testing their reflexes by hitting coloured buttons as many times as possible in just 30 seconds.
A guided stadium tour gave students exclusive access behind the scenes at the AMEX. They learned about the advanced technology used to maintain the pitch, including under-pitch heating, specialised lighting systems to promote grass growth, and purple lighting designed to prevent harmful bacteria. Students also visited the boardroom, media commentary areas, and explored the contrasting design of the home and away changing rooms, discussing the psychological impact these environments can have on players and coaches.
The visit ended with a memorable walk out to the pitch to the sound of “Good Old Sussex by the Sea,” giving students a real taste of the matchday experience.
The trip was an excellent opportunity for Year 9 students to engage with real-world learning and explore the diverse career pathways available within the world of professional sport.
