THE University College of Football Business, which is based in Burnley, has been honoured at the North West Football Awards.

The glittering event, which was staged at Lancashire Cricket Club, saw UCFB pick up the Best Club Sponsorship and Engagement award for producing the “sports industry’s most employable graduates”.

The higher education centre, which offers degrees and executive education in the football business, sports and leisure industries, is based at Turf Moor.

Former Claret’s player Danny Ings’ Disability Project was highly commended at the awards night.

The project is funded by Ings and aims to deliver football coaching to disabled youngsters and children with learning difficulties in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

It is also backed by Burnley FC in the Community, with the aim of setting up a disabled football team and widening the programme.

Provost and chief executive Philip Wilson said: “We started off effectively in the home of the global game. Football was born in Burnley and this area.

“We are the rebirth of the next generation.

“We have now opened up our third UK campus at the Etihad, after Burnley and UCFB Wembley, plus the partnership we have with Real Madrid. We are going from strength to strength.

“If you are passionate and motivated, and you truly believe in what you do and surround yourself with fantastic staff and fantastic people, then you have got a chance. So far, so good.

“The key to anything is hard work, whether it be on or off the pitch.

“Life is competitive and we have a competitive spirit that puts the students at the centre of everything we do.

“We are very proud to see so many of our students, our graduates, working here and many of our students helping out on the event itself.

“So, a proud night on and off the stage.”

The honours come after UCFB delegates visited Malaysia to discuss its Coach Education Programme.

Chief executive Philip Wilson, Hull City assistant manager Mike Phelan and lecturer Mike Walsh made the trip and held “positive and productive” discussions with Malaysia’s minister for youth and sports, Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, and his colleagues.