Luke looks to future as an Elite Athlete
TRIPLE Distinction Accrington & Rossendale College student Luke Moran has been at Accrington Stanley FC as a scholar since 2015.
Two years on and he’s about to begin his studies as an Elite Athlete at Loughborough University, the number one university for sport in the world, to bolster his emerging career in professional football.
A keen student of sport, Luke has played grassroots football from the age of seven, playing for the Mid Lancashire Colts and Central Lancashire League for Tarleton Corinthians before training for two years with Blackburn Rovers. He has had trials at Everton and Burnley and was then offered a trial at Stanley’s scholarship programme.
Working with Stanley, Luke captained both the West Lancashire District and Lancashire County schoolboy sides and made his debut for Accrington’s youth team aged 15.
“These experiences were what made me realise that I was serious about a career in professional football,” he said. “I gained my scholarship after progressing through the academy age groups from 12 to 16, making my debut for the under-18s when I was just 15 years old. I was offered my scholarship on my 16th birthday – while I was still a schoolboy.”
His college life wasn’t entirely all about football though, and Luke made sure he kept a strong focus on his studies.
“The most important thing I have learnt whilst training as a professional is that the standards of your work matter. This means setting standards, either on the pitch, in the classroom or in the gym is vital in achieving success. Anything you’re asked to do, by a teacher or coach, should be to the best of your ability, and you should demand these high standards from yourself.”
“I achieved my Distinction* grades through hard work and the support from my tutors. I put extra hours into College to complete all my units, but this was made possible as my tutors and football coaches worked together to balance my football and course commitments. In the classroom, each tutors’ areas of expertise helped me to achieve the highest grade I could. They enabled me to develop my own knowledge so I was able to produce the best work I was capable of.”
Luke is now heading to Loughborough University to continue his studies in sport, on their world-class Sport and Exercise Science course.
Although he wants to study hard and gain a First, Luke’s ultimate goal is to keep playing the game he loves. “After I graduate, I will still be looking to play football at the highest level that I can. It is a sport that I enjoy, that I’m passionate about and something I still believe I can have a career in. I am also passionate about continuing my education. Once I complete my degree at Loughborough University I hope to specialise in a related subject such as psychology, as I would enjoy working with elite athletes across many disciplines even when I have finished competing myself.”
Luke’s tutor Katie Anderton said: “Luke embraced every element of college life, and seemed to create the perfect balance between his studies and his football at Accrington Stanley FC. He was by far one of the most mature and well-mannered young men that I have had the pleasure of teaching, and through his self-drive and ambition, he has earnt and deserves his place at the most prestigious Sport University in the country.”
Vice-Principal Wendy Higgin said: “We are very proud of Luke, who has proved to be an exceptional student and sportsman.”