News & Events

Former Club Doncaster Sports College student and Dons Academy starlet, Kieran Coates has been celebrating in the Netherlands, just one month before the Sports College travel there for the Erasmus+ Tour. After completing his Sports BTEC L3 with the Sports College, Kieran went on to study at York St. John University gaining a 2:1 in BA Business Management where he thrived. He recently picked up his Masters in International Business Management, but his journey was as testing as it was inspiring.

In 2019 Kieran was accepted to the double masters program (Msc, Advanced International Business Management) which would see Kieran study, firstly at Newcastle University and move onto the University of Groningen; founded in 1614 and rated one of the top universities in the world. Sadly, in 2020 the program was suspended due to the pandemic, and Kieran was told it might not run again; he had to be deferred, hoping it would continue in 2021. The course did indeed start in 2021 and in February 2022, Kieran moved to the Netherlands by himself to continue his academic journey. Kieran submitted his final thesis and defended it in January this year, and was awarded his Masters with a Merit earlier this month.

Kieran said, ‘Master’s graduation 1 of 2 completed. A surreal experience, one that will stay with me for life. A boy from Balby who never planned to go to university at all. Forever grateful of the path I chose’.

All the staff at Club Doncaster Sports College would like to congratulate Kieran on his amazing achievements and wish him every success in his career going forward.

Our Club Doncaster Sports College students had the unique opportunity to speak to Harry Kessler, a Holocaust survivor who gave his inspiring, first hand account of his experience during World War II. The talk was hosted by Holocaust Educational Trust as part of their Outreach Programme.

Harry was born in Vienna in August 1930. He lived in an apartment in the city with his parents, Frank and Anni and was an only child. Harry was born in Vienna in August 1930. He lived in an apartment in the city with his parents, Frank and Anni and was an only child. On the 12th March 1938 Hitler and the Nazis were welcomed into Austria, this was the Anschluss. Despite this Harry remained at his Jewish school. His father finally had to leave work but, as he had retained his Czech nationality, the family could leave Vienna and go to Czechoslovakia. They decided to try and make a new start in Brno. In Czechoslovakia, they again found themselves under Nazi occupation, but it was possible to leave the country legally with the right mass of paperwork. Harry’s father managed to get all the documents they needed except an affidavit from someone in the country to which they were going, taking full financial responsibility for them. In May 1939 however, Harry’s family arrived in England with 30 shillings, no knowledge of the English language and a huge debt of gratitude to the Joneses (the English couple they had met on the Danube steamer) who sent the vital affidavit and shared their home with the family for the next year. Sadly, may of Harry’s family, including his Omama (grandma) were transported to concentration camps, many did not survive.

Our Deputy Principal, Ben Thompson said, ‘A huge thank you to Mr. Kessler and Holocaust Educational Trust for taking the time to inform and educate our learners on such an important issue which has effected so many. Mr. Kessler’s testimony was harrowing as much as it was heartening and the resilience he and his family showed through such an unimaginable time is something which our students were inspired by’.

Planning is well underway for our eagerly anticipated European work experience trip to Utrecht , Netherlands. We are currently finalising a packed schedule with our contacts Robin van Alfen and Nico Bakker, for what will be an amazing fortnight for the students who successfully applied.

✔️ 25 students selected after successful applications
✔️ 2 weeks (11th April – 25th April)
✔️ Playing football matches and training in the city of Utrecht
✔️ Real work experience at a top sports facility @ FC De Bilt
✔️ Watching FC Utrecht live against FC Twente
✔️ Visiting Sports College Utrecht

Keep up to date with our progress across our social media platforms throughout the two weeks for updates and vlogs from the tour.

As part of Club Doncaster Sports College’s Legacy Club project, we’ve had a number of grassroots teams, down at the stadium this week, giving players an insight of facilities & opportunities at the Sports College.

Want to be a part of the Legacy Club in the 23/24 season? Contact (01302) 764663.

The Sports College staff had a visit from former student and current Sheffield United Women’s forward, Bex Rayner. She also brought a surprise, which is now proudly on the wall of fame.

Bex Rayner re-joined Sheffield United after spending 18 months with FA Women’s National League side Nottingham Forest. The 22-year-old spent the club’s debut FA Women’s Championship campaign in 2018/19 with the Blades, scoring five goals as United finished in the top half of the table.

A former England under 21 international, Rayner re-joined the Blades in January 2021 under head coach Neil Redfearn, who she won the league with in 2018 at Doncaster Rovers Belles whilst a Sports College student.

Sports College students can how apply to take part in the Erasmus+ work experience trip. The trip will take students to the city of Utrecht, Holland and offers the opportunity of a lifetime to study, work and play football abroad, over a 2 week period.

Deadline for applications: 10th February 2023

On Wednesday 18th January 2023, students are invited to attend the Introduction To Refereeing course which will comprise of classroom based and practical elements.

To apply, email Ben Thompson, no later than 17th January 2023.

Former Club Doncaster Sports College student and Rugby League Academy skipper, Ben Howe is determined to make the most of 2023 after a testing couple of months for the Dons half-back.

The 21-year-old has recently been given the all-clear after undergoing cardiac screening following a medical complaint at the end of last season.

Howe said: “The whole thing happened really quickly with a couple of appointments with the doctor, and then I was left wondering what it could be.

“I had a lot of things going through my mind but the club have been brilliant with me, they’ve sorted me out with everything I need and enabled me to get the all clear on my heart which has been a massive weight off my shoulders and now I can focus on my rugby again.”

Having signed a new one-year deal with the club, Howe is looking to build on the 14 appearances in blue and gold so far.

He added: “The new deal is all I’ve thought about since last season ended, it was a no-brainer for me to go again with my hometown club.

“I would class it as a bit of a breakthrough year for myself, I got some consistent games under my belt and was happy with where I was at.

“To feel like I contributed to the team going close to promotion was important, everyone was gutted not to go up but we’ve had two attempts at it now and we know what it takes to go one better.”