James Robinson

Football Coach & Scout | University Lecturer | PhD Researcher

United Kingdom

About

Diverse practitioner with a passion for increasing high performance. Experiences in football: - Men’s first team scout (Derby County [champ], Notts County [L2] & Grimsby Town[NL]) - Women's assistant manager in Tier 5 - Men’s academy & advanced centre youth coach - Premier League fitness testing, head fitness coach - U18 Sport Science lead - Academic researcher Achievements - Reached x2 play-offs & x1 promotion in 4 seasons scouting - Active researcher in youth soccer, with multiple published papers in soccer talent ID and development - BSc (78%), MSc - Won the JPL cup with Leeds United U16 girls in the 2024-2025 season - Record of player progression, with multiple players making senior apps from Tier 4 to WSL2 Publications - A new method to identify key match-play behaviours of young soccer players: Development of the Hull Soccer Behavioural Scoring Tool (First Author) - Bio-banding influences talent experts’ ratings of psycho-social behaviours during 11 v 11 soccer match-play (First Author) - Differences in physical and technical performance characteristics between 11v11 chronological and bio-banded soccer match-play format in youth soccer (Co-Author) I utilise my education and experience to ensure I create high performance environments for players to develop. Track record of performing within the pressure, discipline and level of diligence associated with elite sports.

Experience

  • University of Hull (2 yrs 11 mos)
    • Lecturer - Module Leader
      Sep 2025 - Present · 11 mos

      Module leader across undergraduate Level 4-Level 6 Sport & Exercise Psychology modules.

    • Lecturer
      Sep 2023 - Sep 2025 · 2 yrs 1 mo

      Support lecturer on BSc Sports Coaching & Performance Science

  • Assistant Manager - Women's First Team at Harrogate Town AFC
    Jun 2025 - Present · 1 yr 2 mos

  • Applied Sport Science Consultant at Playermaker
    Feb 2025 - Jul 2025 · 6 mos

    Collect and analyse data from Playermaker units. - Integrated into Aston Villa’s men’s First-Team (Feb-Mar 25) - Supported end of 2024/25 season PL development programme (Apr 25) - Delivered a mass scale talent ID project for the UAE ministry of sports (May 25)

  • U16s Girls Academy Coach at Leeds United
    Nov 2023 - Jul 2025 · 1 yr 9 mos

    Coach the U16s age groups to develop players for the next stages in their career. Work collaboratively with U14s/reserves to create clear player pathways. Implement key game management strategies, playing against boys/girls teams in the JPL. Provide opinions on each player, and conduct 3-monthly reviews. Won the JPL cup in the 2024-2025 season.

  • Sport Scientist at Pro Football Support
    Sep 2022 - Feb 2025 · 2 yrs 6 mos

    Head fitness coach, conducting validated tests for the Premier League with all Category 1 under 12 to under 21 age groups, manage subsequent staff & verify data. Extensive use of VALD ForceDecks, NordBord, SmartSpeed and SECA anthropometric equipment. Liaised with numerous Category 3 clubs for sport science support, advising athlete programming and training load throughout players individualised growth and maturation status to reduce injury risk. Rochdale AFC (U18s; Category 3): On-field conditioning led through Sport Science & Technical Coaching provisions to improve match-play performance. Lead gym-based sessions to gain physiological adaptations in maximal strength, lower body power & functional movement. Displayed adaptability in microcycles during double game weeks to maintain match readiness. Extensive use of PMA, to keep record of players’ progress and provide reports for their 6/12 weekly reviews.