The two-day event was filled with inspiring talks, featuring reflections from Professor Stuart Biddle (University of Southern Queensland), Professor Clyde Williams (Loughborough University), and Dr Martyn Shorten of BioMechanica LLC, along with updates on the application of sport science research from Professor Wendy Brown (University of Queensland and Bond University).
A significant panel, chaired by Professor Clyde Williams, discussed the past, present and future of sport and exercise physiology research, bringing together:
Professor James Betts, Professor of Metabolic Physiology, University of Bath
Dr Sam Erith, Performance Director, Manchester United Football Club
Professor John Brewer, Chair of the National Football Museum, Manchester
The panel delved into a wide range of sport science topics, including how the technological advancements in performance analysis have influenced how analysts actually work within the coaching process, applied sports psychology and how the relationship between sports psychology and coaching has developed over time and will adapt in the future.
Another highlight was the ‘Where the Journey Started’ session chaired by Professor Stuart Biddle, in which Professor Clyde Williams (Emeritus Professor of Sports Science, Loughborough University), Rod Thorpe (Former Director of Loughborough’s Sports Development Centre) and Rex Hazeldine (Loughborough University’s first Director of the Centre for Coaching and Recreation), outlined the rich history of SSEHS over the past 50 years.
They noted that in 1975/76, the university saw the introduction of degree programmes in Physical Education, Sports Science and Recreation Management, alongside its first intake of women into undergraduate courses. Initial leadership from academic figures such as Professor Harry Thomason and Mr Basil Stamatakis shaped a pioneering academic discipline, supported by early milestones including the first PhDs in sport-related subjects and renowned publications, such as Len Almond, Rod Thorpe and David Bunker’s Teaching Games for Understanding.
Loughborough became recognised as innovative institution for sport research and education in the following decades. With the appointment of Professor Clyde Williams as the UK’s first Professor of Sports Science, and the development of specialist coaching, recreation and sport centres, came national and international influence. Additionally, the establishment of the Institute of Youth Sport and the Institute for Sport and Leisure Policy, and the appointment of Professor Sue Glyptis, the University’s first female professor, further expanded the school’s areas of study.
By the 2000s, Loughborough had become internationally recognised for its world-leading research facilities. Initiatives such as the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health, the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, and the Centre for Olympic Studies and Research reinforced Loughborough’s reputation for impactful, interdisciplinary work.
Evolution of the School has not halted over the last decade. Its merger into the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, and the establishment of the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine have ensured the school maintains excellence in its research and practice. This sustained achievement is reflected in Loughborough being ranked number one in the world for sport-related subjects in the QS World University Rankings from 2017 to 2026.
Today, under the leadership of Professor Lauren Sherar, the School continues to build on five decades of innovation. Through celebrating its past, the SSEHS School aims to inspire the continuation of Loughborough’s outstanding work in the future, shaping sport, exercise and health sciences globally.
Speaking of the event, Professor Sherar said: “I feel incredibly privileged - not just to have helped bring this together, but to meet so many of the people, from now across the globe, who laid the foundations of our field, and to hear the stories and legacy of Sport Science firsthand. In our School, we truly stand on the shoulders of academic giants. With that comes a deep sense of pride, excitement, and responsibility to carry that legacy forward.”
Sessions from the event were recorded and are available on Teams.
