St Mary's University, Twickenham (SMU) is proud to announce that it has been officially designated as a TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme) delivery site. This recognition marks an exciting new chapter in the University's commitment to supporting elite athletes in their athletic pursuits.
TASS is a national scheme designed to support athletes The programme offers support for athletes in a wide range of sports, and includes access to performance sport services, a medical scheme and mental health support.
As a TASS delivery site, St Mary's will now provide enhanced support for talented athletes, offering them access to world-class sports facilities and sports science experts. Services include performance nutrition, sport psychology, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, and personal development support. The University’s strong tradition of sporting excellence, coupled with its innovative approach to student-athlete development, makes it an ideal partner for this prestigious programme.
The TASS programme is widely regarded as one of the best sports scholarship schemes in the UK, and St Mary's is excited to be a part of this vital initiative.
Along with being TASS’ newest delivery site, St Mary’s will also be working with Crystal Palace FC and The FA, as part of the club’s Professional Game Academy (PGA). PGAs form a core component of TASS’ overall support to high-level athletes.
Women’s Super League (WSL) team Crystal Palace Women FC have been awarded a PGA license this season, having won the Women’s Championship last year to gain promotion. The PGA’s play a key role in identifying and developing talented players with the aim of increasing the number of quality footballers that meet the demands of the professional game.
In the last four years, the number of women and girls playing football has increased by 56%. With practitioners based at the Crystal Palace training ground, players will have the opportunity to visit St Mary’s in order to show them the educational opportunities available.
As part of TASS’s work with the PGAs, St Mary’s is delivering strength and conditioning and nutrition support to top players aged 14 to 18 in the Crystal Palace Women’s academy. This will primarily focus on athletes who are most likely to progress to the professional game, but at the same time create a pathway into university.
St Mary’s has long been a leader in providing exceptional support for athletes. Its high-performance sports facilities, including the state-of-the-art Sports Hall, Performance Education Centre (PEC), and dedicated sports science services, are vital components of the University's comprehensive athlete development programme.
Jen Fairfield, the Sport Performance Manager at St Mary’s said, “This is an exciting process which is invaluable to our mission to promote the value of linking higher education with young and upcoming athletes. Our aim is to help create a dual-pathway and to facilitate an environment that is supportive of talented female footballers and challenges them to be their best.”
Speaking on the initiative, Crystal Palace Women’s Academy Manager Lewis Craig said, “We are happy to link up with St Mary’s University as part of the TASS provision provided by the FA and the PGA in our first year as an academy. The provision provides us with practitioners across strength and conditioning and nutrition for the 2024/25 season, working across our U16 and U21 age groups, providing additional high-performance support for over 40 players.”
National Director of TASS, Guy Taylor said, "We are delighted to welcome St Mary's University to the TASS network of delivery sites. Their commitment to supporting athletes at the top of the England Pathway aligns perfectly with our mission, and we look forward to working together’.