John Lucas
Bury,MAN
Summary
A highly motivated, well-organised, confident and experienced individual, with established skills in providing physical conditioning, rehabilitation and scientific support work to elite sport professionals. Dedicated, adaptable and diligent, with meticulous attention to detail. Extensive experience in providing first-class physical development for teams and individuals. Meeting the demands and requirements of working within elite sport; bringing extensive experience of applied physiological knowledge and applied experience in professional football. Effectively and efficiently managing my own department and working within a multi-disciplinary team to achieve the desired goal, whilst continually working on the development of the department and self-development to provide expectation-exceeding service.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work history
Performance Director
Perth Glory Football Club
Perth, Western Australia
2025.06 - 2026.06
- To create and execute high-performance strategies for the organisation, overseeing sports scientists, medical and additional support staff to maximise athletic performance. Whilst creating and enhancing the organisation philosophies, mission statement and core values across the wider association.
- Design and implement comprehensive training programs to enhance athletic performance through physical development both pitch and gym based, whilst collectively working with technical and tactical staff to enhance the football provision of the organisation.
- Utilising data analysis, injury prevention and long-term athlete development to enhance physical performance to achieving specific KPIs.
- Manage budgets and key stakeholders, ensuring integration and organisational alignment between departments such as strength & conditioning, medical, sports science, nutrition and psychology. Whilst conducting regular staff reviews and performance reviews are conducted.
- Closely monitor core aspects of the programme such as training and competition activity, delivery of athlete support, and development of team culture and the daily training environment, ensuring that key objectives are being met and having the desired impact.
- Provide strategy and oversight to sport science innovation and research, validation, and integration of testing protocols across performance disciplines. Whilst developing a battery of testing protocols in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team
- Oversea and educate athletes nutritional requirements and habits, hydration, and sleep patterns across time zones to support their physical demands. Whilst also delivering and developing recovery strategies to enhance physical performance
Head of Performance
Preston North End Football Club
2022.06 - 2025.06
- Lead and manage all areas of physical development, both pitch and gym-based, across the first team, to create a physically robust squad with an emphasis on squad availability.
- Manage the physical department and support staff within their individual roles. Whilst collaboratively working between all areas of the football club to enhance the provision provided.
- Manage, monitor and report all areas of physical screening, testing and monitoring.
- Design and implement, in conjunction with relevant medical staff, injury prevention programmes for both individual player needs, based on previous medical history and screening.
- Create a smooth transition from mid-stage rehabilitation to return to training and playing.
- Creating a macrocycle, mesocycle and microcycle framework in conjunction with multiple departments, to support the physical planning and development of the first team squad.
Head of Physical Performance
Salford City Football Club
2021.11 - 2022.06
- Responsible for all physical aspects of preparation, development and maintenance across the football club. Working collaboratively across multiple departments to enhance the footballing provision provided.
Head of Fitness and Conditioning
Plymouth Argyle Football Club
2019.06 - 2021.11
- Lead and manage all areas of physical development, both pitch and gym-based, across the first team, to create a physically robust squad with an emphasis on squad availability. Collaboratively working between all areas of the football club to enhance the provision provided. Whilst also managing Academy staff and student placements.
Pre-Hospital Immediate Care in Sport Instructor
Rugby Football Union
2017.01 - 2021.09
Head of Fitness and Conditioning
Bury Football Club
2018.06 - 2019.06
- Lead fitness coach, managing all aspects of physical development both on and off the pitch. Worked as part of the club’s multi-disciplinary team to deliver sports science, nutritional, rehab-related support.
Strength and Conditioning Coach
GB Taekwondo
South Korea
2018.04 - 2018.04
RFL Super League Injury Audit
University of Bolton
2015.05 - 2018.06
- A member of the research group that worked in collaboration with the RFL and Super League Clubs. Data gathered enabled detailed analysis of, and comparison between, individual clubs’ injury stats’ . This involved individual club report writing around each team's sustained injuries and injury rate to provide a direct comparison across the Super League.
Associate Lecturer in Sports Rehabilitation
The University of Bolton
2015.06 - 2018.06
- Teaching on the University of Bolton BSc (hons) in Sports Rehabilitation degree programme across Higher Education levels 4, 5 and 6.
- Physiological testing and screening the University's associated professional teams and athletes in the Athlete Development Centre.
First Team Fitness Coach
Bury Football Club
2014.06 - 2015.06
- Lead fitness coach, managing all aspects of physical development both on and off the pitch. Worked as part of the club’s multi-disciplinary team to deliver sports science, nutritional, rehab-related support .
Fitness Coach
Northern Ireland Under 16s
2011.08 - 2012.05
- Physical preparation to players for training and victory shield games. Nutritional advice and support for training and match days. Recovery protocols for training and match days.
Lead Fitness Coach
Blackburn Rovers Ladies & Girls Centre of Excellence
2011.12 - 2013.04
- Responsible for overseeing the physical development programme across the ladies and girls teams from pitch based conditioning and strength and conditioning provision.
First Team Fitness Coach
Barnsley Football Club
2011.06 - 2014.06
- Pitch and gym-based physical preparation and development. Design and implement strength and conditioning and injury prevention programmes. Designing of a macrocycle, mesocycle and microcycle framework in conjunction with multiple departments to support the physical planning and development of the first team squad Whilst utilising nutritional and recovery protocols to enhance the physical development.
First Team Sports Rehabilatator
Rochdale Football Club
2007.06 - 2011.06
- Working across a multi-disciplinary team providing sports science, medical and sports rehabilitation provision across the first team squad.
Education
MSc Sports Directorship -
University of East London
London 01/2023 - 01/2025
M.Sc. - Strength & Conditioning
University of Bolton
09.2020
Bachelor of Science - Sports Rehabilitation
University of Bolton
05.2010
Certificate of Higher Education - Teaching & Learning in Higher Professional Education
University of Bolton
02.2017
UEFA Football Fitness B Licence -
Scottish FA
01/2025 - 07/2025
Level One Anthropometrist
Int Society of Advancement of Kinanthropometry
02.2017
EMFAiF Emergency medical first aid in football -
The FA
02/2024 - 02/2024
Planning Effective Planning
UKSCA
2022
Level One Coaching Weightlifting
British Weight Lifting
2015
Weight Lifting for Sports Performance
UKSCA
2014
Plyometrics, Agility & Speed for Sports Performance
UKSCA
2010
NVQ Level 2 - YMCA Gym Instructor Level 2
Bury College
2005
NVQ Level 2 - Advanced Diploma in Sports Therapy
Bury College
2003
NVQ Level 1 - YMCA Gym Instructor Level 1
Bury College
2002
Associate Level 2 Strength & Conditioning Coach -
Australian Strength & Conditioning Association
12/2025 -
NVQ Level 1 - Diploma in Sports Therapy
Bury College
2002
Skills
- The ability to to enhance teams and individuals with scientific physical conditioning; both pitch and gym-based
- Deliver physical preparation and recovery protocols
- Produce high-quality functional/dynamic rehabilitation programmes
- Produce individual and team injury prevention protocols and programmes
- Reporting and analysing training and match GPS data using Catapult and StatSports
- Individual and team physical testing and screening through multiple testing equipment such as VALD, GymAware and laboratory based testing
- Working within a multi-disciplinary team to achieve desired goals and outcomes
- Proficient user of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Powerpoint
Accomplishments
- FMPA 2024 Conference Speaker
- EFL League 2 Promotion - Plymouth Argyle Football Club 2020
- EFL League 2 Promotion - Bury Football Club 2019
- University of Bolton Outstanding Lecturer Award 2018
- EFL League 2 Promotion - Bury Football Club 2015
- EFL League 2 Promotion - Rochdale Football Club 2010
- EFL League 2 Play-Offs - Rochdale Football Club 2009
- EFL League 2 Play-Off Final - Rochdale Football Club 2008
Affiliations
- Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
- ISAK Accreditation Level One Anthropometrist
Timeline
Performance Director
Perth Glory Football Club
2025.06 - 2026.06
Head of Performance
Preston North End Football Club
2022.06 - 2025.06
Head of Physical Performance
Salford City Football Club
2021.11 - 2022.06
Head of Fitness and Conditioning
Plymouth Argyle Football Club
2019.06 - 2021.11
Head of Fitness and Conditioning
Bury Football Club
2018.06 - 2019.06
Strength and Conditioning Coach
GB Taekwondo
2018.04 - 2018.04
Pre-Hospital Immediate Care in Sport Instructor
Rugby Football Union
2017.01 - 2021.09
Associate Lecturer in Sports Rehabilitation
The University of Bolton
2015.06 - 2018.06
RFL Super League Injury Audit
University of Bolton
2015.05 - 2018.06
First Team Fitness Coach
Bury Football Club
2014.06 - 2015.06
Lead Fitness Coach
Blackburn Rovers Ladies & Girls Centre of Excellence
2011.12 - 2013.04
Fitness Coach
Northern Ireland Under 16s
2011.08 - 2012.05
First Team Fitness Coach
Barnsley Football Club
2011.06 - 2014.06
First Team Sports Rehabilatator
Rochdale Football Club
2007.06 - 2011.06
MSc Sports Directorship -
University of East London
01/2023 - 01/2025
UEFA Football Fitness B Licence -
Scottish FA
01/2025 - 07/2025
EMFAiF Emergency medical first aid in football -
The FA
02/2024 - 02/2024
Associate Level 2 Strength & Conditioning Coach -
Australian Strength & Conditioning Association
12/2025 -
M.Sc. - Strength & Conditioning
University of Bolton
Bachelor of Science - Sports Rehabilitation
University of Bolton
Certificate of Higher Education - Teaching & Learning in Higher Professional Education
University of Bolton
Level One Anthropometrist
Int Society of Advancement of Kinanthropometry
Planning Effective Planning
UKSCA
Level One Coaching Weightlifting
British Weight Lifting
Weight Lifting for Sports Performance
UKSCA
Plyometrics, Agility & Speed for Sports Performance
UKSCA
NVQ Level 2 - YMCA Gym Instructor Level 2
Bury College
NVQ Level 2 - Advanced Diploma in Sports Therapy
Bury College
NVQ Level 1 - YMCA Gym Instructor Level 1
Bury College
NVQ Level 1 - Diploma in Sports Therapy
Bury College