First Team Physiotherapist

Morecambe Football Club are seeking a First Team Physiotherapist/Sports Therapist/Sports Rehabilitator to lead and deliver best-practice medical and physiotherapy services to all players at the club.

The role is responsible for safeguarding player health, optimising availability, injury prevention, player assessment, rehabilitation and return-to-play processes as part of a multidisciplinary team, inline with club objectives and competition medical standards.

Medical & Physiotherapy

• Lead and direct the provision of comprehensive medical and physiotherapy services to all players.
• Demonstrate expert assessment, diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills.
• Promote and protect the health, safety and well‑being of all players at all times.
• Deliver best‑practice physiotherapy and professional care in line with current evidence and governing body standards.
• Maintain accurate and confidential medical records in line with club policy, league regulations and legal standards.
• Oversee medical screening, cardiac assessment and annual health evaluations.
• Arrange medical imaging, consultant’s appointments and surgeries for First Team players where required.
• Prescribe and implement progressive, individualised rehabilitation programmes for First Team players as required.
• Manage the return‑to‑play process ensuring safe and effective return to training and competition as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Be confident working across the full spectrum of injuries expected in a high‑performance football environment.
• Ensure adequate medical and rehabilitation cover for players requiring ongoing support during the off‑season.

Screening, Testing & Injury Prevention

• Lead all musculoskeletal screening and testing, including pre‑signing medicals and baseline testing.
• Provide clear, relevant medical information to the Club Doctor, Head of Performance, and First‑Team Manager to support informed decision‑making.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide individual prehabilitation and corrective exercise programmes addressing flagged risk areas throughout the season.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to utilise testing data to monitor adaptations, strength changes and improvements in identified areas of concern.
• Lead the monitoring of injured players, injury status, fitness and availability in relation to training and matches.
• Develop and implement injury prevention strategies in collaboration with the wider medical and performance team.
• Within scope of practice, deliver daily preventative treatments including soft‑tissue therapy and manual techniques.

Match Day Responsibilities

• Lead match‑day medical provision for all First Team fixtures (home and away).
• Lead match‑day medical meetings for all stakeholders (e.g. Club Doctor, Opposition Therapist, Paramedics etc).
• Provide pitch‑side assessment, treatment and emergency care as required.
• Deliver appropriate treatments to players on match days.
• Ensure all match‑day medical equipment is maintained, checked and fit for purpose.
• Be present at training sessions and matches as assigned, providing immediate medical support when necessary.

Medical Governance & Compliance

• Oversee medical governance and clinical standards across the club.
• Work closely with the Club Doctor, involving them where appropriate (e.g. cardiac screening, concussion management).
• Ensure full compliance with competition minimum medical standards, anti‑doping regulations and standard operating procedures.
• Collaborate with the performance team to review and update the club’s clinical governance framework annually.
• Maintain accurate, confidential and up‑to‑date medical records and documentation.
• Maintain and order appropriate medical equipment and monitor the medical department budget effectively.
• Communicate clearly and effectively across the multidisciplinary team, providing regular updates on player availability for training and matches.
• Build strong working relationships with coaching, performance and medical staff.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development (CPD) and remain up to date with advancements in football medicine and physiotherapy.
• Support the Head Academy Physiotherapist to ensure that Academy players are provided with best‑practice physiotherapy and professional care in line with current evidence and governing body standards.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications

• Undergraduate or Postgraduate Degree in Physiotherapy, Sports Therapy, or Sports Rehabilitation (minimum 2:1).
• FAATMMiF qualification
• Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), Society of Sports Therapists (SST), or British Association of Sports Rehabilitators (BASRaT)
• Appropriate professional medical indemnity insurance.
• Registered member of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Experience

• Proven experience delivering medical services within elite sport or high‑performance environments especially pitch based return to play.
• Experience in pitch‑side medical assessment, treatment and emergency care.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering injury rehabilitation programmes for athletes.
• Strong knowledge of football governing body regulations, including medical standards and anti‑doping regulations.
• Experience in pitch‑based rehabilitation.
• Hold a full current and clean up to date driving licence and have use of own vehicle.
• Strong organisational, planning and administrative skills.
• High level of IT literacy, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) and performance/medical data management systems.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities in a professional football environment.

Morecambe Football Club is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to endorse this commitment. The above post requires an Enhanced Criminal Records Check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checking service. We fully comply with the DBS Code of Practice and Safeguarding Children Policy/Regulations.

The above post is exempt from Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. Therefore, all convictions including spent convictions that have not been subject to filtering by a CRC should be declared. Relevant information and / or documents will be distributed as part of the recruitment and selection process.

Morecambe Football Club is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its employment policies for recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity.

All interviewees are required to provide original photographic identification and any relevant documentation to satisfy their ‘Right to Work’ under current legislation.