Meet...James Clegg, Hampshire Cricket's Lead Physiotherapist

What are you responsible for within your role?

Acting as Lead Physiotherapist, my role is to manage and lead the club’s physiotherapy services to the professional and academy squads at Hampshire. Liaising with the club's doctors and strength & conditioning staff, I aim to provide a thorough musculoskeletal and medical service, aiming to make the players physically and mentally robust for the rigours of professional cricket. 

Typically, what are your day-to-day activities?

One of the first people to arrive at the club, my first aim is to monitor and analyse the players electronic subjective feedback  which gives our S&C team the insight into the players physical and mental preparedness to train/compete. This allows the S&C team (in conjunction with the coaches) to adapt their training to ensure the player(s) achieves the maximum each day, but not withstanding the overall aim of their programs.

At the end of the day, I will work one on one with any injured players, to ensure they receive a tailored service, free from the distractions which can occur when working in any professional sporting environment. 

What inspired you to get into your current role?

When I was asked whether I would consider filling the vacancy at Hampshire, it was an absolute no brainer. A passionate cricket lover myself, I had the fortune of visiting the The Ageas Bowl in 2012 as part of the medical staff with Yorkshire CCC, and remember being blown away with the clubs facility and set-up. For the last four years, I have worked in Rugby Union, which has taken my skills to a whole new level, but a lead physio role in cricket was always the next goal. I couldn’t have wished for a better county to work with than Hampshire. 

Away from the The Ageas Bowl, do you have any hobbies and what do you like to do in your spare time?

As mentioned I am a keen cricketer, and have played all my life in my home county. I have been a member of Fairburn CC since I was seven and have filled virtually every committee role there. It’s a special club full of special people, many of them being my best friends.

Outside of cricket, I enjoy visiting the gym and have challenged myself to run/bike & cycle the length of the Great Wall of China In 2017. This may explain the many laps I shall be doing around the Ageas this year!

Name an interesting fact about yourself

I am a great nephew of the Father of the Railways, and inventor of the steam-train “The Rocket”, George Stephenson.

This tag line doesn’t ensure free train travel, but it really should!