Junior Cherries treated to IT masterclass

Cherries star Jack Stacey and club legend Steve Fletcher opened the event with an informative and enlightening question-and-answer session.

Staged in the impressive Fusion Building at Bournemouth University, the Junior Cherries took part in an interactive IT game called CyGambit and received a presentation about QuoStar, the Cloud, the value of technology and careers in IT.

Steve Cuss, who heads the AFC Bournemouth Community Sports Trust, hosted the workshop and said: “We value all our partners greatly and I would like to thank QuoStar and Bournemouth University for all their help with this event and their continued support.

“IT plays a really important part in everyday life and the more we can educate and inform young people how best to use it, the better they will be equipped for the world of work.

“A group of Junior Cherries were invited to talk about the digital world, some of the apps that are available and future careers. BU was the perfect environment to have this workshop.

“It was great for the youngsters to hear from Jack Stacey about education, how important it is to continue your studies and to always look to improve yourself.

"We know he’s just finished doing a degree and when you hear it from a Premier League footballer, it’s really impactful.

“There were some great questions from the Junior Cherries during the Q&A and some great answers from Jack and Steve.”

As part of its official partnership with AFC Bournemouth, QuoStar, which has been operating out of Bournemouth since 2005, supports the club’s IT team with information and cyber security helping to ensure security is embedded in its day-to-day operations.

QuoStar’s Marketing Manager Monnique Klingbiel said: “We are so proud to have partnered with AFC Bournemouth and Bournemouth University to give the Junior Cherries this amazing interactive workshop.

“The aim of the workshop was to demonstrate the value of technology, provide an interactive experience, answer questions, and discuss potential career opportunities they might be interested in.

“It was awesome to have Jack Stacey and Steve Fletcher here and to see the youngsters engage and ask them questions. BU was a brilliant venue and the perfect fit to stage the event.”

Defender Stacey has just completed a six-year Open University degree course in business and economics and is due to attend his graduation ceremony at the end of next month.

He said: “There were some great questions and the Junior Cherries certainly put a lot of effort and work into them. It’s always nice when you can speak to them and people who love the club to get their opinions on things.

“Bournemouth University is a lovely venue and the facilities are impressive. It was a great opportunity for the youngsters to learn about IT.

“It’s good to see the club and its partners put on these workshops. IT is the future in terms of technology and is always evolving so it’s great for the youngsters to learn from the experts.”