Birmingham City forward and Northern Ireland captain Simone Magill has added a PhD to her list of achievements, graduating from Edge Hill University while continuing her professional football career. She collected her doctorate during graduation week at the Ormskirk campus, accompanied by her husband Mark and their baby daughter Skye.
Academic and Athletic Excellence
Magill, originally from Magherafelt in Northern Ireland and now based in Southport, completed her PhD on the use of video-based coaching practices by senior professional football coaches. The 31-year-old has balanced her studies with top-level football since her GCSEs.
“I've always had to juggle football and studying, ever since my GCSEs, but completing a PhD while playing football professionally has probably been my greatest challenge. Until motherhood that is,” Magill said. “It’s been a true test of my discipline, determination and resilience, which has pushed me further than ever before and challenged me to my limits. That’s why I’m incredibly proud of myself for completing my PhD.”
Edge Hill Journey
Magill’s connection with Edge Hill began in 2013 when, at age 18, she moved from Northern Ireland to sign for Everton, then a part-time club. She enrolled in the BSc Sports Coaching degree, followed by a research masters in Coach Education, before completing her PhD.
“Edge Hill was a great place for my education journey. I’d signed for Everton so Edge Hill was a great base to continue my passion of playing football and trying to make it into the professional game,” she said.
Professional Career and Family
After over 150 appearances for Everton, Magill moved to Aston Villa in 2022 and then to Birmingham City in August 2024. She now hopes her experience inspires young female footballers.
“When I was growing up I didn't have a lot of active female role models to look up to in the industry I wanted to chase. Obviously the landscape has changed and young girls have better access to women’s football now and are able to watch,” Magill said. “I’m a big believer in ‘if they see it, they can become it’. I want to prove you can be a footballer, and you can study, and you can have a family, you can do all these things at the same time and get to the top in each of them. You don’t have to just stick to one thing.”
Future Ambitions
Magill’s ambitions include becoming a club director to help shape the women’s game. “I've come through pathways, tried to break down barriers and inspire the next generation, so it would be a role that would be quite fitting for the journey I've been on,” she said.
A Special Return
Reflecting on her return to Edge Hill, Magill said: “When deciding where I wanted to study, Edge Hill stood out to me the most, the grounds and the overall campus was beautiful and was unlike any other universities that I looked at. The student experience was amazing. Edge Hill has certainly shaped the direction and trajectory of my life. I enjoyed the full student experience, living on campus. And I met my husband Mark and my best friend Rebecca here, she was the maid of honour at my wedding. It was amazing to come back here with Mark and my daughter Skye, what happened for me at Edge Hill is just really special.”
