A new sports writing course at Staffordshire University is proving popular – among professional sportsmen and women.

Nineteen footballers and a cricketer are on the two-year BA (Hons) Sports Writing and Broadcast Journalism course there.

Former Rotherham defender Scott Minto and Glamorgan batsman and wicketkeeper Mark Wallace are among those signed up.

Lectures and assignments are organised around club training and match days, and students spend two days a week on campus.

They will continue studying during the summer, and will complete a work placement in June.

The degree has been developed with the Professional Footballers’ Association, which is providing financial support for players to enrol in a bid to further their careers.

Gordon Taylor, head of the PFA, told PA Mediapoint: “The professional footballer is still a young man on retirement and this is just another example of how the Association looks to safeguard its members’ futures, not only during their careers but on retirement as well.”