Freddie Adams - Academy Sports Scientist at Gillingham Football Club
Where was your placement, and how did you get it? (any support from SSES staff/ personal interest etc)
My placement was at Gillingham FC as an academy sports scientist. I found the role by attending the conference that was mid-spring term and speaking to Gillingham members of staff that were advertising their placement. We set up a taster day and I impressed so they offered me the role!
What did you get involved with over the placement - three highlights/ three things you did most?
My first highlight was when I took my first matchday warmup successfully on my own, I was left with all the responsibility as the head of sports science was absent, Sutton U18 (H). Nothing went wrong and we ended up winning 5-1! My second was winning our first round in the FA Youth Cup against Cheltenham in dramatic fashion, with a freekick right at the end of extra time. My third highlight is when I was first called up to help with first team training, aiding the warm up, helping with supplements and completing the data presentation. It was good to get first team experience and nice to be trusted to complete the work.
Tell us about your experience (favourite moment, challenges)
Overall, my experience at Gills was really valuable and, enjoyable. I met so many people throughout the year, whether at the club, different clubs or networking events, which sets me up well for the future. Knowing how a team at that level operates is so important for my aims of working full time at bigger teams in the future. It was incredible to see how much effort goes in to helping the club move forward, especially from a sports science perspective, and how many different roles we have to take on.
The main challenge I faced faced was fitting in the U18 routine around the ever changing first team routine. Some days would be much longer, which as my first taste of full-employment was a struggle for me as this was my first taste of full time employment, so 10 hour days did burn me out. Other than the routine jobs, there was always something different going on, which I loved. My favourite moment was definitely the last minute freekick winner at the priestfield stadium vs Cheltenham in the cup.
What did you learn from the placement/ biggest benefit to your degree/ future?
I learnt so much from the placement, especially from senior members of staff, listening to their career journeys made me realise what steps I need to take in this career. Working with three different managers, I learnt all these different styles and ways of doing things. The players and staff I met, not just at Gillingham, taught me a lot about having high standards in whatever I do. All this knowledge can be (and will be) transferred to any football related job in the future, whether its to do with gps software or gym protocols.
What's next - short term and after graduation?
Short term, I'm going to finish my degree in 2026 whilst also working with the academy. Long term, I want to pick up a sports science job in Australia, so I can experience different cultures and routines, whilst also doing a bit of travelling, I figured this is the best of both worlds!
Ben Hopker - Sport and Exercise Science student with a placement at Arsenal Football Club
Where was your placement, and how did you get it? (any support from SSES staff/ personal interest etc)
I am currently completing my placement year at Arsenal Football Club working as a Scouting Analyst. I was able to secure this placement due to the support of my lecturer, Matthew Robins who has contacts at the club. This led to an opportunity to go on a site visit to the Arsenal training ground, supporting further networking and ultimately resulted in a placement year being possible.
What did you get involved with over the placement - three highlights/ three things you did most?
My role involves identifying, tracking and monitoring talent across the under 9 to under 21 age categories through the application of data analysis, video analysis and statistical profiling of players. I create written and video reports on targeted players to support the decision-making process for player recruitment. I also assist in the delivery of presentations about Arsenal Football Club and the package on offer to key target players and their families when attempting to make a signing.
Tell us about your experience (favourite moment, challenges).
· My experience has led me to many amazing moments and experiences. Key highlights include trips away to Belgium, Germany, Spain and The Netherlands to watch and report on international youth and first team talent, in support of the club’s intelligence base. I’ve been able to get exposure of working in different departments by supporting the U18 squad with pre-match and live match analysis at various times across the season. I recently also had the opportunity to play in the end of season staff football match at the Emirates Stadium, which is another favourite memory.
My placement has also taught me how to deal with challenges thrown at me, such as working to strict deadlines and having to find creative solutions to problems in limited amounts of time.
What did you learn from the placement/ biggest benefit to your degree/ future?
· By doing my placement I have been able to gain practical experience in a professional environment. This has allowed me to learn from experienced colleagues as well as how to apply my academic knowledge in the “real World” and developed my practical skills. My placement has provided an opportunity to understand what areas of performance analysis I enjoy most as well as identify areas for improvement. Over the past year I have also made a vast number of valuable contacts in professional football that will hopefully lead to future opportunities and career guidance.
What's next - short term and after graduation?
I’m currently in a fortunate position in which I have been offered a second season working in my current role, so I’ll be carrying on at Arsenal alongside completion of the final year of my degree. After graduation, I hope to secure a full-time role working within the recruitment team of an elite football club.
Chloe Carmichael Parsons - BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
My Placement was at Charlton Athletic FC. One of my teachers, Alastair Thrush has a connection with the Head of Medical - Adam Coe as he used to work there.
Over the course of my placement I got to do lots of different things including player assessments, soft tissue, tapings, and rehab plans. My placement consisted of 11 Week rotations around each team: Men’s, Women’s, 9-16s and finally 18-21s, and I learnt different skills within each.
One of my favourite parts was being taught different ways of doing things by the staff and mastering my techniques e.g. ankle tapings which allowed me to execute them on the Players. I also saw multiple major injuries such as: A complete Hamstring tear requiring surgical repair, ACL/ MCL ruptures and Lateral ankle sprains. This gave me a better understanding of how to rehabilitate them within each of the stages of healing.
The men’s first team made it to the playoffs to get promoted to the championship, so I stayed on to help where necessary. It was a great environment and very exciting. They made it to the final, and it was held at Wembley. Me and another Intern from a different University attended to support them. We won the game 1-0 against Leyton Orient, meaning we got promoted to the championship!
I learnt so much from my placement and to have met such great people too, who helped develop my skills.
Being able to practice everything we learn at University, in a real-world scenario with injured athletes, was such a great opportunity to have had.
Having had a whole year in football has given me the insight for post-graduation, as I would love to work at a football club. I think there is so much more to working in football then most people imagine, as every day is different and unpredictable. My placement year will also help me in my final year of studies, as I have become more confident in multiple things.
After Graduation, I plan to do a masters in Physiotherapy. I hope to work within a football club during or after my masters.
Ben Tatam - BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science with a Year in Industry
On my placement year, I was a sports science/strength and conditioning intern at Southend United Football Club. I have supported Southend my whole life and had been a season ticket holder for 10+ years so for me this was a surreal experience.
Throughout my placement, I helped out with lots of different things such as pre-season testing, setting up and assisting with daily gym sessions, carrying out on-field conditioning sessions for the players and carrying out my own rehab sessions for some youth team players.
I was also responsible for setting up and distributing the GPS devices to all players on training and match days and creating post-match reports to give to the manager.
On match days, I would, set up the changing room with supplements, nutritional snacks and anything else required and provide a conditioning session to any players who were not in the matchday squad. On two separate matchdays, I was in charge due to the absence of my supervisor. This meant leading the pre-match warm-up in front of thousands of fans and providing feedback to manager where I could.
My Favourite moment of my placement was of course walking out onto the pitch at Wembley and having the privilege to sit in the dugouts in a play-final at the home of football. Having my family and friends watch me warm the subs up at half time made me very proud. We lost the match 3-2 in extra-time which was heartbreaking, but it was an experience that will live with me forever.
The placement as a whole was so rewarding and furthered my knowledge to a whole new level. The contacts I have gained in the sporting world will only help benefit my career in the future, and it is great to know that managers of professional football teams know that they can count on me.
My supervisor at Southend left at the end of the season and while the club search for a new person they asked me to come back in to be responsible for all pre-season testing, medicals of summer signings, and conditioning sessions to get the players fit for the new season. Knowing that the staff at the club trust me on such important things proves to myself how well I did on my placement year and makes me so excited for the future.
My plans are to now finish my university degree and then hopefully Return to Southend in a full-time paid position. I would also like to further my knowledge, by completing a masters in Strength & Conditioning while working at Southend.
Craig Sherlock - Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation alum
I have been at Whitstable Town Football Club since I graduated in 2023, where I have played a key role in supporting the first team through his role as Sports Rehabilitator and Medical Lead.
Earlier this year I got the honour of being part of the triumphant FA Vase winning team and got to go to Wembley.
My favourite thing about the final was trying to pinpoint my girlfriend, my three friends and my dad at the final whistle to share what was a magical moment with them all. It's fair to say they were difficult to spot, considering there were almost 10,000 Whitstable supporters!
Like many, stepping onto the pitch at the home of football was always a childhood dream and to realise that dream as part of a team that's achieved something incredible is just surreal.
