Sam Winnall, who played football professionally for more than 15 years, picked up his MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University’s Autumn Awards ceremonies last week.
The striker, known for his time at clubs like Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday, and Derby County, retired due to a combination of injuries and the mental toll of the game.
Now, Sam has kicked-off a new career after completing a Level 4 Diploma in Counselling and runs his own business supporting athletes’ mental health.
The 34-year-old said: “The scope of psychology is growing in every aspect of sport at the moment and I felt as if this was something that I could really excel in. So once transitioning out of the game, it felt a natural progression to go down the psychological and mental health route.
“The Masters course has been excellent and I've learned so much over the past year. It was challenging, which was always good, and I'm delighted to have graduated. For me, this leads me on a path with a new purpose…the future looks bright and I'm really excited.”
As part of a University-led research project, Sam mentored under-18 footballers at a Wolverhampton Wanderers FC – work so successful that it’s now expanding to other clubs in England and an elite team in Portugal.
His MSc research, exploring how strikers navigate competition from teammates, is also being prepared for publication.
“From previously being an athlete to now being a retired athlete, there was so much that I learned that I wish I would have understood whilst I was playing,” Sam shared. “I feel as if I've grown, not just from an educational perspective. I think I've grown from a personal perspective as well.”
The course is delivered via distance learning, allowing Sam to complete his studies alongside work and family life.
He said: “The distance learning really works well with my lifestyle. Not just with my work commitments and other study that I was doing at the time, but it gave me the freedom to do the work when I felt as if I could do the work instead of putting me on a schedule. And that was the perfect balance for me to in terms of completing the degree.
“The support that I received from the from the lecturers was second to none. My supervisor for my dissertation was amazing, and all the tutors, whenever I came into contact with them or if I felt as if I needed their expertise, they more than helped me to get over the line and to graduate with a decent score.”
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