What can Ben do?
Give a quick overview of your work experience (jobs, internships, volunteering)?
I have worked across 10 years spanning the hospitality sector, including events, hotels and the banking industry. I have also volunteered for my local soccer club, where I have assisted the team with matchday and recovery processes.
Do you have a track record of delivering measurable outcomes or KPIs?
Yes. In previous roles, I focused on delivering measurable outcomes by providing excellent customer service, maintaining efficient operations, and supporting team goals. For example, I consistently met service standards during busy periods, helped reduce customer wait times by working efficiently with colleagues, and received positive customer feedback through multiple communication channels. I also ensured tasks were completed accurately and on time, contributing to smooth event operations and overall guest satisfaction.
What technical or industry-specific skills do you bring?
I have developed a strong understanding of football through extensive match analysis and independent learning. I am confident in identifying player strengths, weaknesses, and tactical roles by observing technical, tactical, physical, and psychological attributes from a simulation aspect.
I am familiar with analysing team structures, playing styles, formations, and individual player performances, and I enjoy breaking down matches to identify trends and areas for improvement. I have strong attention to detail, excellent observational skills, and know the basic understanding of player profiling and reports.
What tools/platforms/software are they proficient in?
I am proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook, for reporting, communication, and administrative tasks. I am comfortable using point-of-sale (POS) systems and have experience learning new software quickly. I am also experienced with email, scheduling, and digital communication tools, and I have strong attention to detail when working with data and guest information.
What qualifications, certifications, or degrees do you hold?
I have held a degree in Event Management but more recently, I have completed certificates in talent identification and recruiting across Aussie Rules and the England Football learning program
I bring a strong work ethic, an eagerness to accept feedback, and the determination to keep improving.
What separates me from others is my willingness to learn by taking the initiative to develop my understanding of game tactics, player analysis, and recruitment processes in my own time. I'm naturally curious, detail-oriented, and enjoy analysing matches to understand why players and teams perform the way they do. I bring a strong work ethic, an eagerness to accept feedback, and the determination to keep improving. I'm looking for an opportunity where I can apply those qualities, learn from experienced professionals, and contribute to a high-performance environment.
What steps has Ben taken to break into the sports industry?
The steps I have taken are gaining more knowledge of the insights and trends toward traditional scouting methods, but getting up to speed with the visual graphics of a successful player report.
Ben's interest in sport all started from building winning squads on Football Manager
I want to work in the sports sector, more specifically scouting within football because I enjoy the challenge of identifying talent and understanding what makes players and teams successful. My passion developed through playing Football Manager, where I found the most enjoyment in discovering undervalued players, analysing their strengths, and building squads through smart recruitment rather than simply buying the biggest names. Additionally, watching Moneyball reinforced that interest by showing how data, analysis, and evidence-based decision-making can uncover value that others overlook. That combination of analytical thinking, player evaluation, and the opportunity to help build a successful team is what motivates me to pursue a career in football scouting and continue developing my knowledge of performance analysis and recruitment.
Since then, Ben has gone on to build a decade-long career across hospitality, events, hotels and banking, achieving things like
Achievement 1 | Achievement 2 | Achievement 3 |
|---|---|---|
Delivered consistent service standards during high-volume, high-pressure events, ensuring smooth guest and client experiences under time constraints | Worked efficiently within teams to reduce customer wait times, supporting operational flow during peak periods | Maintained accuracy and reliability across administrative and reporting tasks, contributing to overall event and matchday execution |
Where does Ben want to go?
Next 6 - 12 months | Next 5 - 10 years |
|---|---|
A goal that I'm working on in the next 6-12 months is to be a scout for a renowned football club, local or national, that specialises in youth development. | My long term career goal within the next 5-10 years is to become a head of recruitment or a sporting director |
What sporting problem keeps Ben up at night, and how would you solve it?
One problem I'd love to solve in sport is helping talented players who are overlooked because they don't come from well-known academies or traditional football pathways. Too many players with the ability to succeed are missed due to limited exposure rather than a lack of talent. By combining scouting, performance analysis, and data, I want to help identify these hidden talents and ensure recruitment decisions are based on a player's potential and performance instead of reputation or location. I believe giving more players a fair opportunity ultimately strengthens clubs and the game as a whole.
What is Ben like?
What kind of environment do you thrive in?
I thrive in a collaborative, high-performance environment where everyone is working towards a shared goal and continuously looking for ways to improve. I enjoy being surrounded by people with the same goals whether they are open to sharing ideas, and willing to challenge each other constructively. I also value an environment that encourages learning, embraces data and innovation, and gives individuals the opportunity to take ownership of their work while contributing to the success of the team.
When have you had to show resilience in your life or career?
One situation that demonstrated my resilience was during a busy event where we were unexpectedly short-staffed while managing a large number of guests. Instead of becoming overwhelmed, I stayed calm, adapted quickly, and took on additional responsibilities to ensure everything continued to run smoothly. I prioritised tasks, communicated effectively with my colleagues, and remained focused on providing excellent customer service despite the increased workload. The experience taught me the importance of staying composed under pressure, being flexible, and working as a team to overcome challenges while maintaining a positive experience for guests.
What about Ben interests outside of work?
What are your interests outside of work?
Outside of work, I spend a lot of my time with family and friends talking about daily life and on the odd occasion sporting topics, travelling and learning new cultures and also listening to football podcasts, particuarly The Athletic FC.
What is your favourite sporting moment?
My favourite sporting moments was Leicester winning the Premier League in the 2015/16 season and Wigan winning the FA Cup in 2013. Both achievements showed that success in football isn't always determined by the biggest budgets or the biggest names. They demonstrated how strong recruitment, effective teamwork, clear tactics, and belief can overcome the odds. Those stories are particularly inspiring to me because they reinforce my interest in scouting and building competitive teams through smart decision-making.
What’s your ideal holiday?
My ideal holiday is one where I can explore new cities, spend time outdoors, and experience the local culture. I enjoy sightseeing, trying different foods, and staying active, whether that's hiking, walking through historic areas, or attending sports i dont often watch. To be more specific, my ideal holiday is Japan
If you had 30 minutes to pick the brain of anyone, who would it be and why?
If I had 30 minutes to pick the brain of someone, it would be the owner of Brentford FC, Matthew Benham. I'm fascinated by how he has used data and analytics to transform football recruitment and build sustainable success. I'd want to learn how he identifies competitive advantages, balances data with traditional scouting, and makes long-term decisions that helped the club consistently outperform teams with bigger budgets. As someone aspiring to work in scouting and performance analysis, I think his insights into evidence-based recruitment and club strategy would be invaluable for my experience.
What’s one book or podcast that’s helped your career you recommend?
One podcast that I have held a strong interest for many years is the Tifo Football Podcast as it provides a detailed explanation of tactics, recruitment strategies, club structures, and football operations in an easy-to-understand way.
Additional details
Where in the world are you located, and where are you open to work?
Living in Melbourne but open to work anywhere in Australia and/or United Kingdom
What is the most important consideration for you in your next role?
What's most important to me is joining an environment where I can learn and develop my technical skills, learn from experienced professionals, and help take on responsibility and contribute to decision-making processes. Additionally, I am also looking to work in a team where there is always support and people are approcable at any given time.
What others say about Ben
“Ben consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn. He quickly adapted to new tasks, supported the team whenever needed, and always maintained a professional attitude with both colleagues and guests." – Former Hotel Supervisor
“One of Ben's biggest strengths is his reliability. He can always be counted on to complete tasks to a high standard, communicates well with the team, and approaches every shift with a positive attitude” – Former Colleague
“Ben has a genuine passion for football and is always looking to expand his knowledge. His curiosity, attention to detail, and eagerness to improve make him someone with great potential.” – Colleague at Local Football Club
What questions does Ben have for employers?
How is scouting integrated into your club's overall recruitment and football strategy?
What qualities do your most successful scouts have in common?
How are scouting reports reviewed and incorporated into recruitment decisions?
How does clubs balance traditional scouting with data-driven
What are the biggest challenges currently facing the scouting department across modern football?
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