Sports Journalism award winner reports on Championship play-off final

Trainee journalist Steve Scott was rubbing shoulders with seasoned sports reporters at the Championship play-off final on Monday – his prize from the Football League for the best performance in the Sports Journalism exam last year.

Steve, 30, of the Maidenhead Advertiser, reported on what has been called the ‘the £90m game’ as Swansea City and Reading battled for a place amongst the Premier League elite next season.

He was given a lot of action to write about after watching the Swans beat Reading 4-2 in a pulsating Wembley encounter to claim a place in the top flight for the first time in 28 years. 

“Reporting on the play-off final from Wembley was a great experience and one that I really enjoyed,” Steve said.

“It was great being amongst seasoned sports reporters and football pundits for the occasion, and fortunately the match was pretty action-packed so I had plenty to write about! 

“I’d like to thank those at the Football League and NCTJ who made it possible,” he added.

His match report, which was written in the Wembley press box alongside football pundits such as former Charlton and Republic of Ireland midfielder Matt Holland, was later published on the Football League’s website.

Steve was presented with his award at the Student Council forum on 11 February by Football League representatives Gavin Megaw, director of external affairs, and John Nagle, head of communications.

He completed the part-time fast-track newspaper journalism course at News Associates in London in August 2010. Three months later he began working full-time as a news reporter for the Maidenhead Advertiser, as well as occasionally writing for the Watford FC matchday programme.