Meet Jade

11 Oct Meet Jade

Introduction

Hello everyone, my name is Jade and I am currently studying a masters in Football Science and Rehabilitation at the University of Central Lancashire. Prior to starting my master’s I completed a degree in Sports Therapy at Edge Hill University. My degree helped me to gain knowledge in areas I had never touched before with my master’s degree now adding to that knowledge and including more technology and information for me to utilise in all methods of treatments.

My interests lie very much within the sporting world, to which I am a big lover of football to whom I support the mighty blues of Merseyside. Alongside my passion for football, I thoroughly enjoy playing and watching netball. This is a sport I have been passionate about for many years, having played since primary school and only recently stopped playing after a final year spent playing in the North West Premier Division. Having an enjoyment in these particular sports has allowed for me as my career has progressed to dive into researching and basing my projects upon these sports. Throughout my years of studying I have developed a love of reading and keeping up to date with relevant research to ensure I am able to produce the best treatments and outcomes possible for my clients. 

Experiences

I began my Sports Therapist career during my second year of college taking up the role of a Sport therapist for the U18’s at Chorley FC. This early career opportunity allowed me to have an enormous insight to working within a football environment, with my roles including providing training and pitch side management for all players. Throughout my time at Edge Hill University I took up roles in a variety of sporting environments and settings throughout my three years of studying my degree. These included roles at Southport RFC with their 1^st team, the University onsite clinic, and the Universities Men’s Rugby Union 1^st team. All of these roles helped for me to develop my clinic, communication and time management skills aswell as further developing my rehabilitation and treatment skills. 

I made the move into professional sport in my third and final year of University with St.Helens RLFC and Wigan Athletic FC academy. I spent the whole season with both of these clubs, allowing me to improve as a therapist in specific areas of the job. In the summer of 2019, I received an amazing opportunity to work with the South African International Netball team during the Vitality World Cup that was held in Liverpool. My role whilst working with the team included providing treatment pre and post matches and training sessions including involvement in the semi-final against England. Overall this was an incredible experience to be a part of, allowing for me to see how elite athletes in one of the sports I love so much, work and train for such an important competition. 

Most recently my journey in professional sport has seen me secure a part time role at Super League Giants St. Helens RLFC. A role in which I enjoy thoroughly, seeing me working with all the teams that the club offer from 1^st team through to the women’s team. My time so far at the club has helped me massively develop my independent skills, especially in the area of soft tissue therapy and rehabilitation. 

Ambitions 

My current ambitions I hold as a therapist are to ensure that a first-rate service is given to all my clients who come to me with injury problems or require rehabilitation and massage to become pain free and a return to sport or enhance their lifestyle. I also hold ambition within my studies of completing my first published article, this is something that is currently being contemplated. My future ambitions are to increase and expand upon my knowledge to improve the treatment and services on offer to each client.