Finished your Undergraduate Studies in the USA? Interested in a Post Graduate Degree + develop your soccer skills? All to take place at highly respected Leeds Beckett University Just a few miles from an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - the Yorkshire Dales Rapid links to London and Edinburgh Premier League Football on your doorstep. Easy access to European cities - Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid to name but a few. Play for Knaresborough Town Women - Top of the Table and heading for the Championship. Soccer and Study - Destiny Calls

Fatimah Lapin Half Term Report. Goals galore and lots of fun but a serious injury blow my bring the season to an early end.

The team at Soccer and Study UK work hard to ensure all our student athletes have the most rewarding time both on and off the field. Last weekend it was the Rugby League World Cup Final double header. 1st up the Ladies, and Australia playing the auld enemy NZ - a great game with the Matilda's taking gold with an electric performance. Athletic, powerful, controlled with an unbeatable will to win. Awesome! Then onto the men - hard to describe but another scintillating performance and a convincing victory against a plucky Samoan side. You could feel some of the tackles up in the stand, but no quarter was given by either side and good to see Samoa register 2 tries. This all took place in front of a full house at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. Icing on the cake was an appearance by "Sir" Kevin Sinfield, ex Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Captain, who had just completed 7 ultra-marathons in 7 days to raise over £2m for his close friend Rob Burrow, who is battling against Motor Neurone Disease. A truly emotional experience and a heartwarming reaction from the whole crowd. A truly spectacular day that will live long in the memory. Interested in the Soccer and Study programme? - it could be you. #womenssoccer #SRUSAFamily #CollegeSoccer #Lifechangingexperience

Now well into her 1st semester, Fatimah has progressed well both on and off the field of play. I am reliably informed her Masters in Criminology is demanding but interesting, and Fatimah has already made an impression on the field of play scoring regularly for both the University team and for Knaresborough Town Women. A visit to Wembley, Elland Road and Old Trafford nave provided some sporting highpoints and visits to the Yorkshire Dales and the historic city of York are next on the agenda. Fatimah has just about got used to the Yorkshire weather, but a move from Florida to the North of England has required an increased number of layers of clothing.

A special visit for Fatimah to Elland Road Stadium, the home of Leeds United FC. But this visit was not to watch a Premier League Football / soccer match, but an opportunity to watch the semi- final of the Rugby League World Cup. A titanic clash between Australia and New Zealand and Fatimah's introduction to the New Zealand haka - a frightening sight before all their games. Regarded as one of the best semi-finals on record, Australia go through to the final as 16-14 winners but NZ can regard themselves as unlucky with 2 late tries chalked off for minor infringements. A great night, crazy mild weather for the end of November, and on top of the rugby, a visit to 2 of Leeds best known pubs to sample some traditional Yorkshire beer. As Fatimah summarized at the end of the game - "just like American Football, without the protection"

Leeds has so much going for it. The University facilities are first class, the social life is second to none, transportation links mean London and Edinburgh are less than 2 hours away, and there's an area of outstanding natural beauty, the Yorkshire Dales, right on your doorstep. Add in top class cricket action at Yorkshire Cricket Club, Premier League Football at Leeds United, and topflight Rugby League with Leeds Rhinos, and you begin to understand why Leeds is such an attractive academic and sporting destination for International students. Fatimah Lapin (pictured) is studying for an MA in Criminology whilst, at the same time, scoring goals for fun at a rate that even Erling Haaland would be proud of. Her team sit top of the table with a 100% win record due, in no small part to the contribution Fatimah is making both on and off the field of play.

A great day out as Fatimah Lapin, Soccer and Study UK's first client, has the opportunity to walk Wembley Way and watch the clash of Womens World and Euro champions. Great game and great atmosphere with England edging the result and suggesting that the gap between the best in Europe and the USA is now minimal. A great warm up for next year's World Cup in Australia. If I let my head rule my heart then Spain, if they can sort out internal problems, look the team to beat next year, but no-one will fancy playing England. Over 70,000 fans!!!

What a start - 3 games in, 8 goals scored, 1 Player of the Match performance and Knaresborough Town with a 100% win record and top of the table. And this all prior to the start of University soccer at Leeds Beckett. Fatimah has certainly hit the ground running since arriving from sunny Florida - a great eye for goal, 100% determined and happy to work hard for her teammates, there is no doubt that Fatimah will play a major part in the development of Womens football at Knaresborough Town. Watch this space!!!

The UEFA Euros start in less than a week and if England vs Netherlands was anything to go by, prepare yourself for a feast of entertaining football, with goals galore, all played in front of massive crowds. This competition has really caught the public imagination and I am heading to a full house 75,000 Old Trafford next Tuesday for the opening fixture between England and Austria. Spain remain tournament favourites but England were very impressive against Netherlands and I hope they can go all the way to Wembley. Going forward they were irrepressible against Netherlands, and look to have strength in depth - key player Lauren Hemp. Regular updates as I attend games over the next few weeks. Buckle your seatbelts and enjoy the ride!!