Created by Coventry University in partnership with Education UK and the British Council, 'The Pitch' challenges teams of school students to make management decisions on behalf of a fictional British professional football club. During the competition, teams face the same challenges that football clubs normally encounter, allowing students the opportunity to develop and use a range of skills that would be attractive to a future employer. These include team working, problem solving, project management and presentation skills.

Teams are asked to decide on a new shirt sponsor for the club, sign a new player and address whether the club will continue to play in its current ground in the future. The first three stages of the competition take place on-line, with UK sports management experts from Coventry University available to provide advice and feedback. The fourth and final stage will take place live, with the four short-listed teams asked to present their decisions to the football club's Board.

‘The Pitch took place in China between September and November 2009, with the live final taking place at the Ling Long Pagoda in Beijing's Olympic Green. Judges at the final included Simon Chadwick, Professor of Sport Business Strategy and Marketing at Coventry University; Fran Jones, Head of International Development at Tottenham Hotspur FC; Phil Carling, Global Head of Football at Octagon, the international sports marketing agency; Rowan Simons, Chairman of China ClubFootball FC; and Martin Gomme from British Council China.

The winning team, Hunan Yali Middle School, fought off stiff competition to win the trip of a life time: a visit to the UK, including a tour of the Tottenham Hotspur football stadium, tickets to a football match and a visit to Coventry University to experience what it is like to study in the UK first hand.

Zhang Jiahua from the winning team said: ‘We were over the moon when the result was announced. The most important thing we’ve learnt is team work – individual talent can be developed significantly when everyone has their input.’

For more information, visit China's The Pitch website or read China's The Pitch brochure (1.99MB).

‘The Pitch’ will also run in Thailand between November 2009 and February 2010.