FA Media Boss gives talk on home ground

Adrian Bevington, Head of Media Relations for the Football Association (FA) is to give a guest talk at the University of Teesside on Friday 25 February.

Middlesbrough-born Adrian, 33, will be talking to students, mainly from the BA (Hons) Public Relations and Marketing degrees, about best practice as a media officer. The talk will begin at 11am in room A2.021, Teesside Business School, Second Floor, Clarendon Building, followed by questions from the audience.

Adrian left Hustler school in Acklam at 16, and began his media career by working for ICI’s monthly in-house newspaper, Chemicals & Polymers News. Following a brief spell in administration for Langbaurgh council, Adrian joined Middlesbrough FC as a Publications Officer. Adrian was no stranger to the club, as he played for Middlesbrough Schoolboys on the left wing. Initially, Adrian undertook ‘basic’ PR and writing for the club’s publications. He later progressed to Media Relations officer, before moving to the FA in a senior media relations role in 2000. He was promoted to Head of media relations in 2003.

Adrian said: “I’m looking forward to speaking with the next generation of PR and Marketing professionals - particularly on my home turf. I regularly return to Middlesbrough - generally once a month. I'm still a season ticket holder at the Riverside and most of my family remain on Teesside.”   Maria Hopwood, Senior Lecturer in Public Relations at the University of Teesside added: “Having Adrian here will give us a fantastic opportunity to hear about life at the sharp end of sports media relations. The fact that he’s from Middlesbrough and still has his roots here is an added bonus. I know Adrian’s making a special effort to make time in a demanding schedule to come to Teesside. He’s something of a celebrity in the world of football, we’re very lucky to get him.”

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