THE JOURNEY AT SOCCER ASSIST
GET TO KNOW OUR SOCCER SQUAD
SOCCER ASSIST VISION + VALUES
OUR AWARDS + FEATURES
OUR JOURNEY

ABout Soccer Assist

October 2014 was the birth of Soccer Assist as co-founders Tyrelle McLeod-Bentley & Junior Osei-Tutu sat in their dorm room in West Virginia discussing the lack of support they received from their scholarship agency.

Obtaining a scholarship is just an important process for each of our student-athletes. Soccer Assist’s client-centered approach, offers a personalised experience to each individual, both before and after a scholarship is attained. We help enable them to prepare themselves well, to ensure each individual achieves their full academic and sporting potential. Attaining a scholarship is just the beginning of the process, we help create sporting opportunities throughout their time in the U.S. 

Travelling to another country may seem to be a daunting experience, but with Soccer Assist, you will feel at ease. The guidance and tailored support services will allow each student-athlete to reach their maximum potential and surely make an impression. With experiences of playing in the U.S, the staff have achieved Academic Honors, National Championships and have competed at the professional standard. Now it’s Soccer Assist’ turn to guide clients to do the same; as with the right support, anything is possible.

OUR SQUAD

Meet the team

Soccer Assist is an award-winning scholarship agency that help talented student-athletes secure U.S scholarships.

The foundation of Soccer Assist is based on providing world-class soccer scholarship experiences to aspiring student-athletes.

Tyrelle McLeod-Bentley

Co-Founder

After studying a Business Management degree in the U.S. at Olympic College & West Virginia Tech University, Tyrelle moved on to play professionally in Sweden. In 2014 he was Young Enterprise business award winner and named one of the under-30s rising sport executives in the U.K., by the Sports Industry Group.

Prior to co-founding Soccer Assist, Tyrelle helped many CEOs and entrepreneurs to build illustrious businesses working for the Supper Club, part of Prelude Group in London.

Junior Osei-Tutu

Co-Founder

After successfully completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management at Walsh University (Ohio), Junior moved back to the U.K. to co-found Soccer Assist.

Throughout his time in the U.S. and now the UK, Junior has attained the skills and knowledge required to manage and operate a team. He has successfully built a thriving team of individuals that offer aspiring student-athletes the opportunity to fulfil their full sporting potential and prepare them for their future endeavours.

Junior has been mentioned as one of the Top 20 young entrepreneurs in Start-ups UK, featured in publications such as Business Advice and FIFA, and has worked with some of the world’s leading sport brands.

Annabel Prior

Operations Manager

Prior to heading to the States Annabel played football at a high level representing the likes of AFC Wimbledon, Fulham FC Centre of Excellence and Chelsea FC Academy where she captained the team to a league trophy as well the FA Youth Cup in 2012.

Annabel moved to America in 2013 where she studied towards a bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotion at Louisiana Tech University. She graduated with a 3.8 GPA and was awarded a full scholarship to be a part of the NCAA D1 programme.

During her time at LA Tech she helped the team to three post-season tournament appearances and was on the University President’s Commendation role every quarter and the Women’s Soccer Commissioner’s Honour Roll every year.

Tautvydas Poniskaitis

Recruitment Coordinator

Tautvydas (TP) was born in Lithuania and moved to the UK aged 2. He began his footballing journey at Wealdstone and was called up by the Lithuania U19s National Team.

At age 16 he decided to continue his football development in America so he could also work towards a Bachelors degree. He received a scholarship to study at Cayuga Community College in New York in 2013 before transferring over to SUNY Brockport where he graduated with a degree in Sports Management.

Following his graduation TP became the Goalkeeping Coach and Recruiter at Niagara Community College for a season before returning to the UK in 2021.

He joined Soccer Assist with the objective of recruiting and supporting players that are looking to follow in his footsteps. TP also continues to play Non-League football for Hadley in the Southern League Division 1.

Aaron Pike

Recruitment & Player Care Coordinator

Aaron started his footballing journey off at MK Dons before moving to Northampton's Football Education Programme at age 16. It was here that he decided to go to America and study for a degree whilst also continuing his footballing development.

Aaron earned a scholarship at the University of Jamestown where he would study for a degree in Sports Communication. He completed his Senior year on the Deans list for Education and in the top 5 for the Men's Soccer Programme for goals and assists.

Following his graduation Aaron went on to play for semi-pro sides America Duluth FC and Dakota Fusion in the NPSL.

Aaron then returned to the UK in 2022 and started his career with the Soccer Assist family as a Recruitment & Player Care Coordinator.

Lily Chiang

Social Media Executive

After deciding not to go to University Lily went travelling across Australia and Fiji. She came back to her hometown in Suffolk in 2019 with a strong desire to work in football. She decided to get back into education and completed a digital marketing apprenticeship with the Suffolk Football Association.

With experience in digital marketing and a passion for creativity, Lily looks after Soccer Assist's social channels and is tasked with coming up with creative content.

Lily has always been involved in sport, playing hockey regularly from a young age and captaining the Suffolk county side. She has also always had an interest in football and is a keen Watford fan.

Emily Woolvin

Account Coordinator

Emily started her playing career at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and has experience playing with and working with elite players in England before heading over to pursue her ambitions in the USA.

Emily graduated University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, concentrating in Sports Management from NCAA DII College Goldey-Beacom in Delaware. She obtained the DII ADA Academic Achievement Award and CACC Academic Honour Roll Recognition during her time in America.

Since returning to the UK, in addition to her work at Soccer Assist, Emily coaches at West Bromwich Albion Girls Academy - supporting young footballers with their development both in the UK and USA.

LEAGUE LEADERS

Our Vision

Providing world-class soccer scholarship experiences to aspiring student-athletes. Soccer Assist values:

Detailed
  • Focus on results – when we need to be, we are ruthlessly focused.
  • We plan and identify all eventualities in order to react quickly when required.
  • We have the right answers for 99% of questions. For the remaining 1% we will find the best answer.
Freedom to succeed
  • Trust forms the foundation of our team and empowers all members of staff.
  • We aim to be ourselves and stand up for what we feel is right and important.
  • We encourage healthy debate, and once a decision is made we support it wholeheartedly.
Innovate
  • Think in the future, anticipate trends and opportunities.
  • Generate ideas and move them to action.
  • Be imaginative in finding solutions to issues and pursuing opportunities for the business.
To be adventurous, creative and open
  • Be honest at all times and demonstrate high integrity.
  • We should always be seeking adventure and having fun exploring new possibilities.
  • We approach situations and challenges with an open mind.
Human touch
  • We put the needs of our clients first. Finding them a solution is what we pride ourselves on doing.
  • Value the differences in people and treat everyone with dignity and respect.
  • Build great relationships with those you work with, both internally and externally.
TO BE FIRST
  • Being proactive in our approach when finding the best scholarship deals for our clients.
  • Thinking outside of the box to create new and exciting opportunities for the student-athlete community.
  • Continuously challenging our people to stay informed about the constant industry changes.
SOCCER ASSIST IN THE NEWS

AWARDS / PR FEATURES

Moments of our journey captured so far.

Startups.co.uk –
Young entrepreneurs to watch.
SHEKICKs.NET –
An American Hero.
FC BUSINESS –
Opens USA doors for student-athletes.
BUSINESSADVIcE.CO.UK –
LAUNCHING AN AGENCY.
NCSYES.CO.UK –
TEEN IDOL.
ENTREPRENEURIAL SPARK BY NATWEST –
GO-DO AWARD WINNER.
SPORTINDUSTRY.BIZ –
NEXTGEN WITH BARCLAYS.