Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Huddersfield Town prepare for new season with testing at Leeds Beckett University
The first-team squad including captain Jonathan Hogg, midfielder Jon Russell and Welsh international Sorba Thomas took part in body composition and metabolic tests using the university’s state-of-the-art facilities ahead of the club’s pre-season fixtures.
The results of the tests will be used to create individual plans for each player to maximise their performance on and off the pitch, a key part of the club’s strategy.
The on-campus sessions have been organised as part of a growing partnership between the two organisations, which has allowed the club to tap into new insights and for academics from the university to carry out research at an elite level football club.
Four PhD students from Leeds Beckett who were part of Huddersfield Town’s first team and academy backroom staff as the Terriers finished third in the Championship will return to the club for the new season as they aim for promotion.
Dr Nessan Costello, Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Nutrition said: “The relationship between LBU and HTAFC is both genuine and symbiotic.
“We provide value through our outstanding facilities, staff expertise, applied research and student placements. We hope to continue building on this exciting relationship over coming seasons.”
The partnership has also allowed professionals from Huddersfield Town to gain new qualifications, with Town’s Head of Physical Performance Paul Bower studying for a professional doctorate at the university.
Speaking about the partnership, he said: “The information provided at Leeds Beckett helps make sure that every single player has what they specifically need to make them better.
“Without the high-end level of test, we wouldn’t be able to give a high-level programme.
“The key for us is how open Leeds Beckett are to allow us to come to the facility, and how open we are to share our information and collaborate with the academics here.”
You can find out more about Huddersfield Town’s partnership with Leeds Beckett here.