Q&A: Callum Foy’s Journey in Sports Journalism

We sat down with Sports Journalism student Callum Foy to talk about his journey into sports media, his rapid rise at UtdDistrict and how he’s now helping open doors to work experience opportunities for other UA92 students.

How did you first get involved with UtdDistrict and what drew you to the opportunity?

I actually spotted the role on LinkedIn. It was the first time UtdDistrict were allowing external writers, so I applied. By then, I’d already spent about 18 months doing unpaid work – tactical analysis on Twitter, a guest appearance on a Bolton Wanderers podcast and pieces for Attacking Football.

I joined UtdDistrict as a writer and four months later I was made an editor in a paid role. Now I oversee content and support other contributors, including plenty of fellow UA92 students.

When did you realise your work was making an impact and helping to open doors for other UA92 students?

UtdDistrict has a distinctive house style, and I think my previous writing experience helped me pick it up really quickly. That meant I was trusted early on to publish independently and help drive SEO and increase content output.

As Utd District expanded, I started bringing more students in. Now we’ve got around 10 UA92 student contributors, which is great to see. It’s also opened opportunities at Arsenal Fan TV, where we expect another group of 10–20 students will get involved in the near future.

Your piece on UA92’s 11 core principles gained attention. What inspired that angle?

The idea came from something my Sports Journalism lecturer Phil Jones said. He mentioned that UA92 was built on 11 principles, similar to those co-founder Gary Neville and the Class of ‘92 experienced during their days at Manchester United under manager Sir Alex Ferguson. I wanted to explore whether those principles still show up in modern football culture and compare that to Manchester United across different eras.

How has your Sports Journalism degree at UA92 supported your development?

Before I started at UA92, I’d mainly written tactical analysis which is very different from news writing. Since starting, I’ve learnt to write in different styles and under different time pressures.

Covering a Salford FC game from the press box was a big moment. I had to get team news out within minutes, and the match report a minute after full-time. That’s when you really feel the pace and pressure of the industry. It’s great experience to put yourself in these situations when they become available as it prepares you for your future career.

Also having lecturers who’ve has real careers, like Phil, who has interviewed huge stars such as Pelé, makes everything feel real and relevant.

What skills or experiences from your degree have directly contributed to your success externally?

The Magazine module really stands out for me. We had to produce a 50-page magazine as a group and I ended up working on design and editing, two things I’d barely touched before. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, but the teamwork, communication and editing skills I picked up are things I use every day at UtdDistrict, so I’m glad I opted to try something different.

What are your long-term goals in sports journalism, and how do you think your current roles will help you get there?

I want to become a Manchester United correspondent and report from the stadium. Everything I’m doing now (writing, editing, learning the club inside out) is building towards that.

I also present on the Fanzone podcast. Being multi-skilled is huge in sports journalism now, as writing alone isn’t always enough. Having presenting experience gives you a massive edge.

What advice would you give to future UA92 students who want to follow a similar path?

Put the graft in. A lot of my opportunities came from looking for them myself, not waiting for them to come to me.

Sometimes you’ll need to start by doing things for free just to build a portfolio. Just make sure you balance external work with your uni work and don’t burn yourself out.

Any recent opportunities worth mentioning?

I interviewed a sports psychologist for a project with Simon Moore, and I was invited onto the “What’s Your Goal?” podcast. Both were great chances to develop new skills, and they’re the kind of opportunities more UA92 students can get involved in too.

Callum is the perfect example of exactly what UA92 is all about: drive, determination, ambition and not giving up until you succeed. With more students now joining him at UtdDistrict and beyond, it’s clear this is just the start for him.