The programme will include the following elements
Training
Mentoring
Network
Work Experience and Internships*
The programme is free of cost to the players and all elements will be delivered virtually.
Training sessions will be led by Visa and key Visa partners
including, but not limited to, the following topics:
Training
- Social media
- Personal branding
- Partnerships
- CV writing
- Career planning
- Managing finances
- Networking
- Communication and leadership
Mentoring
All participants in the programme would be offered the opportunity to have a mentor from a senior stakeholder at Visa or one of our partners. Our aim would be to partner you with a mentor from an area of the business that aligns with your interests or long-term career goals.
Network
Visa is one of the world’s largest payment companies, which means we have a huge network of partners across industries such as technology, retail & media, through to rights-holders like UEFA. This means that you may also have the opportunity to build your connections in different sectors or industries.
Work Experience and Internships
*The programme offers participants who completed the programme the opportunity to apply for work experience and internship roles.
“The Second Half programme can benefit players at all different stages of their career. Whether you are preparing for retirement, or a young player considering yourself as a brand, TSH will provide invaluable education, opportunities and connections to help you. Being a part of TSH and this group of female footballers was empowering and eventually vitally important during my unexpected retirement from the game.”
Brooke Chaplen: Retired WSL player (2022) and current General Manager of Reading Women FC
“I am really excited to have helped develop this programme with Visa
and to create something that I know current and retired players will
really benefit from. Football is an amazing sport and I hope players
understand that the skills they have gained as a professional are
highly desirable and with the right support players could work in any
field or industry they wanted.
For me personally it has been an amazing journey, learning so much
about the business but also challenging myself to do things I would
never have done if this opportunity hadn’t come about. I am so glad I
stepped out my comfort zone and I hope we have created something very
special which will help lots of people.”
Karen Carney MBE (former England international and Visa consultant)
“The second half programme was definitely worth doing as it allowed me to start planning for life after football, as well as opening my eyes to new pathways I’d never thought of. I was able to network and meet new people and gain a mentor to help me facilitate my future goals.”
Jemma Purfield: Current Leicester City Women’s player
“I feel very grateful to have been part of the team building The Second Half programme. It has already provided me with experiences and opportunities that I know will help me post-football. I have no doubt in my mind that The Second Half will empower other female footballers like myself and will provide them with the guidance to utilise and build on the skills they have gained throughout their playing career, across to another line of work.”
Kim Little, Team Visa Footballer (Arsenal Captain & Scotland Vice-Captain)
“The Second Half will help us with life after football. Our career is our way.”
Didem Karagenҫ, Team Visa Footballer (Besiktas & Turkey international)
