AAT success stories: studying alongside playing professional football

Professional footballer Reece Styche reveals how studying for AAT gave him focus as he recovered from injury – and why the right mindset and hard work can enable you to achieve your goals.

Reece Styche at a glance…

Age: 35
Years in accounting: 7
Name of employer: Safety Technology International
Top tip for students: Hard work gets results – if you really want something, be prepared to commit to it fully. Also, be consistent. Small regular wins will add up to great results.

Reece Styche never set out to be a professional footballer. In fact, he originally had his heart set on being a plumber and left school at 16. Yet 27 years after playing his first Sunday league match as an eight-year-old, he has represented his country while working as finance manager at Safety Technology International.

Styche progressed through the youth system at Hednesford Town, moved to Chasetown when he was 20 and made his debut at Forest Green Rovers in January 2010, scoring two goals after coming on as a substitute. He was approached by Stevenage but had to turn them down to complete his accounting apprenticeship. In November 2010, having qualified as a plumber, he then went full-time with Forest Green.

Finding AAT through injury

When he suffered cartilage damage in one knee, then an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear in the other, he realised how short a football career is, and started looking at other options away from plumbing. This is where AAT came in.

His self-funded Level 2 and 3 AAT studies helped him stay positive and focused between 2011 and 2013 while on the sideline. It was a tough time. His nan, who had been a bookkeeper and an inspiration to Styche, suffered a stroke. He was also recovering from a nine-month cruciate injury.

His AAT studies were book-based, with tutor support, but he had incredible backing from Nick Craggs of First Intuition, who gave him help and advice via Facebook, marked mock exams and encouraged him.

Landing his first accounting role

Styche got his first accountancy job at Safety Technology International, where he started seven years ago as an accounts assistant and has since worked his way up. Now 35, he has combined his AAT and CIMA studies with playing part-time football.

After completing AAT Level 4, he started studying for CIMA but, in 2018, he got called up to play for Gibraltar’s national team having made his debut four years earlier, due to his nan’s heritage.

Hard work pays off

In November 2019, Styche scored his first international goal against Switzerland. He said: “Scoring that goal changed everything. There was a time in football when I was constantly on the bench and I thought about quitting.

“Instead, I committed to relentless work – training, gym, nutrition. I got myself in the best shape possible and football has been, since leaving full-time, really rewarding. That wasn’t luck, that was preparation meeting opportunity. I was with Gibraltar between 2018 and 2023 and had a really successful run with them.

“It’s the same with accountancy. If you have the right mindset and put in the work, you can achieve anything.”

Further reading

AAT success stories: from student to business owner

From AAT apprentice to director – there’s no limit to success

5 reasons to do an apprenticeship with AAT

AAT Comment offers news and opinion on the world of business and finance from the Association of Accounting Technicians.