Matt Bickley is departing West Bromwich Albion after a tenure of eight and a half years to assume the role of Head of Sport Science at Stoke City. Having initially joined West Brom in June 2015, Bickley served as the First Team Head of Sport Science and Conditioning for the past two years. His departure marks a move to Stoke City, a club that has been without a Head of Sport Science since the departure of Paul Walsh just before the pre-season, after three years of service.
Bickley’s professional journey includes a year at Birmingham City’s Academy before joining West Brom. He completed a PhD at Liverpool John Moores University in 2020, focusing on the impact of illness in professional football, especially respiratory illnesses like common colds, ear infections, sinusitis, and issues such as
gastroenteritis and diarrhea. The study aimed to understand the frequency and nature of illnesses in football, their correlation with the physical demands on players, and implementing strategies to reduce illnesses over a specific period.
Stoke City, currently under the management of Alex Neil, is positioned 14th in the Championship. The team is on a positive run with three wins and two draws in their last five games, making Bickley’s transition to the role of Head of Sport Science at an opportune time for the club.
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