Coaches
Coaches AND The Team
Meet the exceptional team at S&SUK
''Our sole objective is your total peace of mind.
Our goal is to create a unique experience for all of our student athletes.''
Ged Maloney - Head of Recruitment S&SUK
Welcome to Soccer and Study UK
The Soccer and Study UK team are a group of male and female coaches with a wealth of experience in soccer recruitment. Our role is to provide an environment that enables us to work closely with you to maximise your full potential both on and off the field.
Jon Maloney, Managing Director and Lead Coach, has already established a highly successful soccer recruitment company, now in its sixth year, which specialises in the recruitment of British student athletes drawn to the opportunity of a soccer scholarship in the USA.
His business, SRUSA Women, was built on providing exceptional customer service to female student athletes, and Jon has an outstanding reputation with his soccer players as well as many top USA soccer coaches.
Jon set up S&SUK following a number of requests from USA soccer players who were keen to study and play soccer over here in the UK. The company is run with the same commitment to providing a positive life-changing experience for all participating student athletes.
Meet the Team
Jon Maloney
Managing Director and Lead Coach
Following a career which began at Leeds United Academy, Jon went on to play professional football for Doncaster Rovers. Jon was then offered the opportunity to become a member of the men's soccer programme at the University of Montevallo in Alabama, USA from 2005-2008.
Jon was twice named (NSCAA) NCAA Division 2 All- American during his time at the Falcons, and received the unique honour of being inducted into the University Hall of Fame, not once but twice, in recognition of both his goal scoring record and the leadership he demonstrated as Captain of the University team.
Jon returned to the UK and joined Harrogate Town AFC as a player, while also setting up SRUSA Women and establishing and managing the Harrogate Town Ladies team, where his team achieved promotion in two out of three seasons.
Jodie Whitford-Stark
Head of Ladies Coaching
Recognised throughout women’s soccer as one of the top female coaches in the country, we are delighted and privileged to have Jodie as part of the S&SUK team.
Former Watford, Stevenage and Luton player, Jodie has an excellent coaching track record of developing and nurturing female talent at a number of soccer clubs to include Chelsea, Watford and Sheffield United.
Jodie has formed a close working relationship with Jon over the last six years in her capacity as a player and a coach. Jodie has also helped hundreds of student athletes fulfill a lifetime ambition to play soccer in the USA through a close working relationship with Jon at SRUSA.
Jodie recently finished a spell travelling the world identifying talent as International Development Officer at Chelsea FC and was recently offered a position as a Tutor at the FA.
Matthew Edwardes
Goalkeeper Coach
A product of the Manchester United and Leeds United Centres of Excellence, Matthew achieved international honours with Scotland, and played for Salford and Rochdale until a serious hand injury stopped him from playing at the highest level.
He now runs his own Goalkeeping Academy and is an outstanding coach who has played a key role in the development of Ladies Football at Harrogate Town.
Ged Maloney
Director
As former Director of Ladies Football at Harrogate Town, Ged has wide experience in the world of girls/women's football in the Yorkshire area. He was instrumental in establishing a Player Development Centre and Girls Academy at Harrogate Town, and worked closely with his son, Jon, to establish a highly successful Ladies 1st and then a Development team.
Lesley Maloney
Director of Education and Wellbeing
We take individual pastoral care extremely seriously. Lesley has held senior management positions in the world of education and her role is to ensure that each and every student athlete has the very best possible experience whilst studying over in the UK.
Are you a sport lover? Well – you’ll LOVE living in Leeds and studying at Leeds Beckett! Whether you like to watch sport, play it, or even just sit in the pub and watch it from a comfy chair, there’s plenty for you to enjoy here in Leeds.
