Gifted goalie is latest recipient of Aber Town Football Club Scholarship

Left to right: Professor Tim Woods, Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning Teaching and Student Experience at Aberystwyth University with scholarship holders Alex Pennock and Mathew Jones, and Donald Kane, Chairman of Aber Town FC.

Left to right: Professor Tim Woods, Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning Teaching and Student Experience at Aberystwyth University with scholarship holders Alex Pennock and Mathew Jones, and Donald Kane, Chairman of Aber Town FC.

13 November 2019

Talented goalkeeper Alex Pennock has been awarded the Aberystwyth University and Aber Town Football Club Scholarship.

Eighteen year old Alex from Aberystwyth is a first year student studying a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences. 

Whilst studying for his degree, Alex will play for Aberystwyth Town Football Club in the Welsh Premier League and also the Aberystwyth University BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) football team.

The Aberystwyth University and Aber Town Football Club Scholarship is worth £4,000 a year, with a range of additional benefits including Platinum membership of the University Sports Centre, football coaching development opportunities, medical insurance, access to physiotherapy, match and training kits.

The scholarship is jointly funded by Aberystwyth Town FC and the University’s Aber Fund, which receives donations from Aberystwyth University alumni all over the world.

“Being awarded the opportunity to have a place on this scholarship scheme is something that my family and I are very proud of,”  Alex said. “To be able to play football whilst also getting a university education is great. So far I’m really enjoying my time at the University, as I am finding my course really interesting and have met plenty of new people who have already become good friends. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the next three years hold, both academically and with my football.”

Aberystwyth Town Football Club Chairman Donald Kane, who is an alumnus of the University, said: “I warmly congratulate Alex on being awarded the prestigious Aber Town FC Scholarship.  A home-grown talent, Alex played for the Under 16s and was part of Aberystwyth Town's Under 19s side which retained the Welsh Premier League Development Trophy at Newtown in May 2019.  He now plays for the first team, where one of his teammates is fellow Scholarship holder, Mathew Jones.

“Since being awarded the scholarship in 2018, Mathew has been almost ever-present in the first team.  He has been selected as Vice-Captain and was picked for the Wales Semi Pro squad which drew with England at Salford City FC in March 2019.  He also captained Aberystwyth University's side when it played against Bangor University in Varsity 2019 at Park Avenue in front of 1,500 people.”

Aberystwyth University is the principal sponsor of Aberystwyth Town Football Club for the 2019-20 season.

At the team’s match against Bala Town FC on Friday 8 November, Professor Tim Woods, Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning Teaching and Student Experience, accepted a framed first team kit on behalf of the University, as a token of appreciation from Aberystwyth Town FC.

Professor Woods said: “Aberystwyth Town Football Club was established in 1884, just eight years after the University first opened its doors to students.  Ever since then students and staff from the University have supported or played for the ‘Seasiders’, and the sponsorship and scholarship builds on this long-standing relationship, whilst also opening up opportunities to sport and higher education.”

The closing date for applications for the Aberystwyth University and Aber Town Football Club scholarship is 15 July 2020.  Full details and the online application form can be found at: www.aber.ac.uk/scholarships.  Applicants are also welcome to contact Aber Town FC to discuss suitability: abertownfc@live.co.uk.