Caitie, born and raised in Penygraig, a Welsh village in the Rhondda, has always had a natural enthusiasm for sport and a deep love of football, but was unsure how to channel it. At just sixteen, Caitie walked through the Community Foundation’s doors. A high achiever in high school, she was seeking pathways through the beautiful game that could tap into her passion for sport while also challenging her academic skills.

Over the last four years, Caitie has grown with Cardiff City FC Community Foundation, transitioning from a summer sport programme through to her Level 3 studies, and in 2024, she enrolled onto the Sport Business Management course in affiliation with EFL in the Community and the University of South Wales, a turning point in her confidence and self-belief.

Captivated by the business modules in her college coursework, Caitie’s education was, without her realising, slowly paving the way for her future, as she began to sync her aspirations with her interests. Growing up in the digital age, Caitie had always been intrigued by media and marketing, but had never made the connection between that and sport. However, on the Sports Business Management degree, something clicked.

Caitie’s degree allows her to study directly within a professional workplace, gaining hands-on experience that strengthens her skills and boosts her career opportunities. Alongside this, Caitie has had the opportunity to broaden her experience through placements and projects with the Community Foundation’s sponsors, partners and local connections. This is where she truly began to flourish.

Cardiff City FC Community Foundation helped secure a placement for Caitie with her local football club, Cambrian United, during a historic season in which the men’s first team achieved promotion to the Cymru Premier, becoming the first Rhondda Valley club to reach the top tier of Welsh football since 1997. The placement was tailored to both Caitie and the club’s needs, focusing on growing their social media presence and enhancing their marketing efforts.

Despite finding the transition from college to university challenging, and initially struggling to communicate with confidence, Caitie’s experience within football operations and the workplace has helped her become more independent.

Caitie now solely manages the social media content for the first team, creating graphics, using scheduling systems, adhering to brand guidelines, and working with video software - contributing to an increase of over 3,000 followers on Instagram alone since she began volunteering with the club.

Studying in a professional environment has helped Caitie rise in resilience. With her responsibilities increasing month by month, she has demonstrated strong communication and relationship-building skills through her work with sponsors and partners, while also mapping out her role for next season across hospitality, fan engagement, audience research, and community outreach.

But that’s not the only way Caitie is making her mark. She continues to use her football coaching skills to lead Cambrian’s Inclusive Football Team of twenty locals with additional learning needs, each week. Seeing their progress firsthand remains incredibly rewarding for Caitie, further cementing her place as now a valued and trusted member of the club.

This wouldn’t be possible without the support of her mentors, Joshua Evans and Miles James at Cambrian United. Caitie has regular wellbeing check-ins and completes monthly reviews of her progress, actively working towards the club’s goals while helping to build stronger communities across the Rhondda Valley.

Joshua Evans Head of Operations at Cambrian United FC shared:

"It has been fantastic to watch Caitie grow in confidence throughout her learning placement at Cambrian United Football Club. She has embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm and pure professionalism.

She's shown a willingness to learn, take on new challenges and has become a valued member of the team.

It has been a pleasure to support her development, and I'm excited to see where her skill take next."

Thanks to the blend of Community Foundation tutors pushing her to excel in her academic work, alongside the support of Cambrian’s family environment, Caitie is committed to building a career in football - continuing to challenge the status quo of a male-dominated industry and bringing the heart she has developed through coaching into every aspect of her work.

Caitie Ridley-Morgan, reflected:

“At the beginning, it was intimidating being in such a male-dominated environment, and I did have doubts about staying. But now, the boys are like my brothers - it’s a real family here, and I love being here every day.

I wouldn’t be where I am now without the Community Foundation supporting me since day one at sixteen. Looking back, I never imagined I’d be here. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

"Theres so much more to football than people think."

Anuerin Britton, Skills and Employability Officer at Cardiff City FC Community Foundation added:

“Caitie is a great example of a student who takes opportunities with both hands, using them to channel her strengths and showcase her best qualities. Her bravery and drive to make a difference in her placement, time and time again, are clearly reflected in the academic side of the degree.

It’s a pleasure to see students like Caitie discover their passion and begin to map out their future.”