Alan Pace speaks about the partnership between Burnley FC and Burnley College Burnley Football Club Chairman Alan Pace has lauded the recently announced partnership between the club and Burnley College who have become Burnley FC’s first Esports Academy. The Clarets are the first Premier League club to partner with an education establishment to promote the business of Esports through a BTEC qualification in Esports developed by the college.

The BTEC covers business marketing, video game design, event planning, production, broadcasting and journalism to highlight the various pathways students can enter into the rapidly growing industry. Alongside providing students with a wide-ranging education in Esports, the course will also act as a pathway into Burnley FC’s Pro Esports teams as well as additional learning and business opportunities with the club.

Chairman Pace said the club was delighted to have partnered with Burnley College and sees the relationship as another chance for the Clarets to innovate off the pitch and appeal to a brand-new audience. He said: “We’re really excited about this partnership and the opportunities it will afford to students in our local area to learn, develop and hopefully go on to do some really cool things in the Esports space. “We wanted to develop the club’s Esports offering when we first came in as we feel it caters to a rapidly growing, inclusive audience who we want to appeal to as a club – this is the next step in that process.

“The fact that Burnley College run this amazing BTEC and are right on our doorstep made this partnership a no brainer for us. As a Premier League football club, we hope we can bring some additional expertise and opportunities to the table for the students in the local area to forge closer links with us. That’s whether they join our Esports Academy or if we can help them develop their education or business opportunities.”

The new facility will be named the Burnley FC Esports Academy with players from the college representing Burnley FC’s new Esports Academy team named “BEES” in the National Esports League on titles such as Rocket League and Overwatch. Some players will also join up with the Burnley FC Esports Pro’s in the FIFA 22 Global Series.
There are plans over time to increase the size of the joint facilities used at both the college and Turf Moor as the course and teams expand.

Over the last 10 years Esports has grown exponentially and is on course to become a $2 Billion industry, with new Esports arenas being introduced all over the world as demand continues to grow. You can watch how Burnley FC Esports teams get on this season in all tournaments by following the official Burnley FC Twitch channel www.twitch.tv/burnleyfc.