Bournemouth University (BU) Master's students studying Sports Performance, Strength and Conditioning, and Exercise Science were given exclusive access to Premier League football team AFC Bournemouth’s (AFCB) elite training facilities at their Canford Magna Performance Centre on Friday 24 April 2026.
The £32m training facility was opened by Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola and club owner Bill Foley in March 2025 and includes a dome housing an indoor pitch as well as full-sized outdoor pitches that are used for the Men’s and Women’s teams training, recovery, analysis and development.
The students were given a tour of the indoor facilities, which include a medical suite, classrooms and changing rooms to help AFCB continue their run of Premier League success, as BU student Jean Apichaya Runglerdkriangkrai said: “As someone studying performance analysis, opportunities like this are incredibly important. Building relationships with local clubs such as AFC Bournemouth not only helps us create connections but also allows us to understand how the industry operates in a real-world setting. It’s something that really enhances our learning experience and would be difficult to replicate elsewhere.”
Flynn Healey, studying for a Master's in Sport and Exercise Science said: “It's really important to maintain relationships with local elite clubs such as AFCB as using our research we can inform their decisions and performance and simultaneously they can help provide experience and career pathways for our alumni.”
Dr Andrew Callaway, MSc Sports Science Programme Leader who organised the visit said: “BU’s partnership with AFC Bournemouth is unique, and visits like this are exactly what our MSc programmes are designed for. Taking students into a Premier League environment, where they can engage directly with the practitioners, shaping modern performance science, bridges the gap between academic rigour and professional reality in a way that no classroom can replicate.”
AFCB’s Player Liaison and Club Ambassador, Steve Fletcher who hosted the event and led the students on a tour of the new facilities said: “It’s always a pleasure to welcome students to the Performance Centre and give them a closer look at how the club operates behind the scenes. The group from Bournemouth University were fantastic, really engaged throughout, asking insightful questions and showing a genuine interest in all aspects of the club.”
Following the tour, students were introduced to AFC Bournemouth players Alex Tóth Veljko Milosavljević and were given the opportunity to ask them questions. BU student Jean continued: “Meeting a first-team player and having the chance to ask questions was also a really valuable and insightful experience for us as students.”
Steve Fletcher continued: “Experiences like this are incredibly valuable for young people looking to build a career in sport. Seeing first-hand how a professional football club runs, from training to operations can really help bring their studies to life and give them a clearer idea of the opportunities available within the industry, which is all possible with our partnership with Bournemouth University.”
For further information about postgraduate sport courses, please visit the BU website.
