About

I am a Senior Lecturer in Sport Coaching and the Programme Leader for FdSc Sport Performance & Analysis. I teach across a range of undergraduate modules whilst also supervising various undergraduate Independent Study students, postgraduate Independent Research students, and PhD candidates. Having published numerous papers in the following areas, my research focus is on organisational and managerial change in professional football and talent development and identification in professional football. I am also a UEFA B Licence coach and have experience of working in a variety of professional football, semi-professional football and national university-level football environments. 

Teaching responsibilities

Programme Leadership

• FdSc Sport Performance and Analysis

Module Leadership & Teaching

• Applied Coaching and Training 1 (Level 4)
• Coaching Children & Adolescents (Level 5)
• Integrated Sport Science (Level 5)
• Vocational and Experiential Development (Level 5)

Project Supervision

• Independent Study (Level 6)
• Independent Research (Level 7)
• PhD Supervision (Level 8)

Professional interests

• Coaching and Management in Professional/Semi-Professional Football
• Talent Identification and Development in professional football

Research interests

• Managerial and Organisational Change in Professional Football
• Organisational Growth and Development in Professional Football
• Talent Identification and Development in Professional Football

Membership of professional bodies

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Qualifications

Postgraduate Qualifications

• PhD by Traditional Route (The micro-politics of organisational change in professional football)
• MA Exercise and Sport

Undergraduate Qualifications

• BA (Hons) Coaching and Sport Development

Professional Qualifications

• UEFA B Licence
• FA Youth Award
• STATS Level 3 Performance Analysis in Football
• FA Futsal Level 1
• FA Coaching Disabled Footballers Certificate

Recent conferences

• Gibson, L., Groom, R., Bostock, J., & Akehurst, S. (2020). The micro-politics of implementing, supporting and coping with organisational change in the academy of a professional football club. Paper presented at the 28^th European Association of Sport Management Virtual Conference. 25^th September 2020

• Gibson, L., & Groom, R. (2017). Actions and strategies of a professional football coach during a period of organisational change. Paper presented at the 11th Annual ICCE Global Coach Conference, Liverpool John Moores University, UK. 1st August 2017

• Gibson, L., Draper, N., & Groom, R. (2016) Understanding the behaviours and actions of others during the organisational change in professional youth football. 5th International Conference for Qualitative Research in Sport and Exercise, University of Chichester, UK, 1st September 2016

• Gibson, L., Groom, R., Nelson, L., & Potrac, P. (2011). Ambiguity, Manageability, and Orchestration: Implementing and Coping with Complex Organisational Change in Elite Soccer. Sports and Coaching: Pasts and Futures, Crewe, UK, 25th June 2011

Experience in industry

• Assistant Manager - Trafford Football Club (2020 - Present)
• 1st Team Coach - Trafford Football Club (2018 - 2020)
• Assistant Head Coach - England Universities Men's Football Squad (2017 - 2021)
• 1st Team Manager - Abbey Hey Football Club (2013 - 2018)
• Professional Football Academy Coach - U9's, U11's, U15's, U16's (May 2010 - May 2016)
• Development Centre Coach – Crewe Alexandra Football Club (2009 – 2010)
• Casual Coach – Isle of Man Sports Development Unit (2007 – 2009)

Recent publications

Journal Articles

• Prendergast, G., & Gibson, L. (2022). A qualitative exploration of the use of player loans to supplement the talent development process of professional footballers in the under 23 age group of English football academies. Journal of Sports Sciences, 40(4). 422-430

• Gibson, L., & Groom, R. (2021). Understanding ‘vulnerability’ and ‘political skill’ in academy middle management during an organisational change in professional youth football. Journal of Change Management, 21(3). 358-382

• Gibson, L., & Groom, R. (2020). Developing a professional leadership identity during organisational change in professional youth football. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise & Health, 12(5). 764-780  

• Gibson, L., & Groom, R. (2019). The micro-politics of organisational change in professional youth football: Towards an understanding of 'actions, strategies and professional interests'. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 14(1). 3-14

• Gibson, L., & Groom, R. (2018). Ambiguity, manageability and the orchestration of organisational change: a case study of an English Premier League Academy Manager. Sport Coaching Review, 7(1). 23-4

• Gibson, L., & Groom, R. (2018). The micro-politics of organisational change in professional youth football: Towards an understanding of the ‘professional self’. Managing Sport & Leisure, 23(1-2). 106-122

Book Chapters

• Gibson, L., & Butterworth, A. (2023). Micropolitics and working as a performance analyst in professional sport. In Professional practice in performance analysis. A. Butterworth (Ed.). London: Routledge.