Class of 2020: Conor Walker

For committed volleyball player Conor Walker an Essex education has been about juggling training and matches with the pressures of studying, all whilst holding down a job with Essex Sport, but success in the BUCS Premier South league made it all worthwhile.

Conor, who is leaving Essex with a BSc Sports Therapy degree, first started playing volleyball aged 12, on the encouragement of a teacher. With his BUCS success under his belt, he hopes to play professionally.

“The most enjoyable things about being part of the team at Essex is the chance to meet some amazing people and be able to train full time,” said Conor, who secured a sports scholarship at Essex.

“There are so many skills that you gain from team sports that are highly desirable in everyday work and life. I don’t really want to imagine what my university experience would have looked like without being part of a team.”

Conor, who also spent his placement year playing professionally in Tromsø has won the BUCS Premier South league three times since moving from Scotland to start his studies at Essex.

“I chose sports therapy because I have always been interested in the human body and being an athlete, who has had various injuries, I wanted the knowledge to help others who themselves have been injured,” he said.

Training with Essex’s elite volleyball team meant spending more than 30 hours a week training, travelling to matches and playing, all whilst also studying and spending another 30 hours working in the Sports Centre.

He is now in talks with several European clubs where he is hoping to secure a professional contract.