“How do I get a job in football?”
This is the question I get asked most in my DMs (and IRL). Whilst I am always happy to give advice, I thought it might be an idea to put together a rough guide that people – especially those that don’t want to send that message – will hopefully find of some use.
The essentials:
For a physiotherapist position, you need a physiotherapy degree and you need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Without these, you will not be shortlisted as 99% of the time, the clubs want good candidates that can start ASAP. The only caveat to this is if you are in the process of getting your registration or degree and the position has a future start date. E.g. sessional staff for the new season.
The desirables:
A sports trauma management qualification – preferably ITMMiF, or even better, ATMMiF – will help you stand out from the crowd. It will also allow you to have more varied experiences, such as covering games, festivals, and tours, earlier in your career.
Previous experience within a sporting setting (not necessarily football) is always useful. Think about how you can draw on these experiences in the new setting as well as what ideas you can bring to your new department. Energy and fresh ideas are always welcomed.
As mentioned above, experience in football isn’t necessarily a prerequisite, especially for sessional or part-time role. A broad base in MSK physio is a great starting point and its even better if you have experience rehabilitating athletes of any level.
Where to find opportunities?
From my experience, the best sites for finding jobs are the following:
There is however truth in two well known adages.
- “Your network is your net worth”. By building connections effectively within the industry you give yourself access to opportunities that might not even be advertised, and certainly help your CV stand out when applications are being reviewed.
- “If you don’t ask, you don’t get!”. Rightly or wrongly, many peoples first foray into the field of sports physio is via volunteering. This may involve match day cover at the local club, or offering injury clinics before training sessions. You can really clear on the expectations and ensure that these align with your goals and development.
There are 92 league clubs, academies and women’s teams at many of these, standalone women’s teams, disability teams. The list goes on. Don’t be afraid to reach out and offer your expertise to clubs at different levels.
And don’t be afraid to ask for compensation for your time and expertise. They can only say no!
I hope people find this of use going into the new season.
