Ryan Thomas

Senior Lecturer

School of Sport, Health and Wellbeing

01752 636700

rthomas@marjon.ac.uk

Role Summary

I have over 20 years of experience in academia, with lecturing and management/strategic positions held across both further and higher education. I currently work across various programmes in the School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation, and specialise in modules related to coaching, the management and development of sport, work-based placements, and more specifically, talent identification. I enjoy seeing academic topics from the classroom being delivered in real-life practice, and this has often seen me integrating a range of industry-focused projects and partnerships into relevant modules. This enables students to benefit from the development of employer-related skills and meaningful integration into local and regional sporting networks. I believe that such real outcomes from learning are crucial to enhancing knowledge and understanding of complex social and sporting topics.

I recently completed my PhD, which used a relational approach to better understand the interactions, relations, ties and network formation in academy football. This work provided an important and novel contribution to the talent identification and development literature, predominantly through the relational sociological theorising of Nick Crossley. I have used some of this work to influence further scholarly activity and impact policymakers through presentations at national/international conferences, publications in academic journals, and knowledge exchange/workshops/CPD via the Premier League and Association of Sporting Directors. I also have previous employment experience as a Development Officer, Coach, Coach Educator and Mentor across various levels of football.

Qualifications

PhD 'Actors, networks, and interdependancies: a relational analysis of talent identification in elite youth football', Northumbria University

MSc Sports Management, Northumbria University

BSc Hons Sports Development, University of East London

HEA Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development, University of Exeter

1st 4 Sport Level 3 Certificate in Coaching Football (UEFA B License)

FA Youth Award (module 1, 2 and 3 inc. assessment for full FA Youth Award)

FA Learning Licensed Level 1 Tutor

FA Learning Licensed Youth Module 1 Tutor

FA Level 1 Talent Identification

RFU Level 2 Rugby Coaching

Teaching

Football Development & Coaching
Football Science
Sports Development and Coaching
Sports Business Management
Sport Coaching & Physical Education

Held the role of programme leader for both the BA Hons International Event & Sport Management programme, and FdA Football Coaching & Development programme between 2011 and 2015. Performed the role of Academic Link Tutor for provision at Cornwall College and Exeter College till 2021.

Research

My interests primarily revolve around the use of relational sociology to better understand interactions, relations and ties in sporting environments, and the impact that this may have on the constitution and configuration of networks.

This permits me to study, in depth, issues around the dynamics and mechanisms of interaction, the enabling and constraining features of relationships, impression management, power and exchanges of goods and services. In particular, I am interested in the nuances and complexities in identifying and developing talent in sport and the micro-political aspects and emotions in the everyday doing of sports coaching practice.

My recent work has involved working with colleagues across academia and industry to deliver talks and workshops to impact upon practice. Specifically, this has included talks to Academy Managers as part of a Premier League training programme in association with Liverpool University, and to the Association of Sporting Directors. This presentation highlighted the use of official and unofficial networks when contemporary policy is enacted in football academies.

I enjoyed 8 years working as a sports development practitioner in various settings, which included Active Partnerships, National Governing Bodies of sport, professional football clubs and specific national initiatives (Active Sports). I was also an FA Coach Educator/Tutor for 10 years, and continue to work as a qualified football and rugby coach.

Publications

Publications:

Thomas, R., Hall, E. T., Nelson, L., & Potrac, P. (2022). Actors, interactions, ties, and networks: the ‘doing’ of talent identification and development work in elite youth football academies. Soccer & Society, 23(4–5), 420–431. https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2022.2059870

Thomas, R; Potrac, P; Hall, E; Nelson, L (2018) From practice to theory: Analysing the relational nature of community sports coaching. Research presented at the CRiC Coaching in the Community Symposium: Unpacking the challenges, tensions, and realities of the community sports coaching profession. Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, 2018

Doggart, L., Thomas, R., Elford, P. and Catlow, S. (2017) A review of the BASES Position Stand on Curriculum-based Work Placements in Sport and Exercise Sciences. The Sport & Exercise Scientist, issue 53, Autumn, pp20. BASES: Leeds, UK.

Thomas, R. and Brown, P.C. (2010) ‘Making Sense of it All: Discussing the Boundaries and Essential Elements associated with Successful Sports Development work in the UK’ Journal of Physical Activity and Human Development Summer 2010 No. 4

Conferences:

Thomas, R; Potrac, P; Hall, (2024) Intensification, value and enabling (inter)action: a relational analysis of the everyday doing of coaches’ work in a category 3 football academy Research presented at the Cluster for Research into Coaching (CRiC) conference: Imaginative intersections between critical coaching scholarship and practice. Northumbria University, Newcastle: UK, 2024.

Thomas, R; Potrac, P; Hall, E; (2023) ‘I couldn’t tell you who they are, or what they do!’ The consequences of distrust, distance and interconnected football worlds in managing stakeholder relationships in football academies. Research presented at the Football Collective Conference 2023: Transformational change: managing football and social justice. Leeds Beckett University, Leeds: UK, 2023.

Thomas, R; Potrac, P; Hall, E; Nelson, L (2019) Beyond the production line: the role of relationism and social network analysis in understanding the interactions, relationships and ties of stakeholders within the growing academy environment. Research presented at the Football Collective Conference 2019: from grassroots to hyper-commodification. Sheffield United Football Club: Bramall Lane, Sheffield: UK, 2019.

Cory, M. & Thomas, R. (2017) An investigation into the effect of the Football Association’s ‘trophy events’ on the attitudes and coaching behaviours of a youth football coach. Research presented at the UK Sports Development Research Network Annual Conference, Plymouth Marjon University, UK, 2017

Thomas, R; Brown, P; Dowling, M (2017) Augmenting the student experience through digital innovation. Research presented at the Higher Education Academy Annual Conference Generation TEF: Teaching in the Spotlight. Manchester University, UK, 2017

Thomas, R; Dowling, M; Brown, P (2016) Examining stakeholder relationships in high performance sport environments. Research presented at the UK Sports Development Research Network Annual Conference, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK, 2016

Brown, P; Gribble, Z; Thomas, R (2016) Digital innovation award: sports development ‘HUB’. A project update. Presented at the University of St Mark and St John Learning & Teaching Conference. University of St Mark and St John, Plymouth. July 2016

Thomas, R. (2012) An evaluation of curriculum design and content in the Practical Sports Development Module at UCP Marjon. Presented at UCP Marjon Learning, Teaching and Research Conference 2012: Redefining the contours of Learning, Teaching Research in the 21st Century. Plymouth: UCP Marjon. 5th-6th July 2012

Picknell, G., Thomas, R., and Cusack, A. (2010). Stepping into the unknown: An investigation of psychological stressors experienced by student coaches. Research presented at the BASES Annual Conference, Glasgow, UK, 2010.

Picknell, G., Thomas, R., and Cusack, A. (2010). Psychological stressors experienced by student sports coaches. Research presented at the Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group Annual Conference, Sheffield, UK, 2010.

Thomas, R. (2009) Have things really changed? Perceptions of Women's Football in England. Research presented at the School of Sport, Physical Education and Leisure Annual Conference, University College Plymouth St. Mark & St. John, Plymouth, UK, 2009.

Thomas, R. (2006) Critically analysing Talent Identification procedures, and investigating the reasons behind the low percentage of England International football players produced in the South West of England. Research presented at the School of Sport, Physical Education and Leisure Annual Conference, University College Plymouth St. Mark & St. John, Plymouth, UK, 2006.

Invited Speeches:

Thomas, R (2024) Research Insights. Talk given to Association of Sporting Directors, 2024.

Thomas, R (2022) Relationships and Networks in Academy Football. Talk given to Premier League Academy Managers Training Programme, 2022.

Thomas, R and Brown, P (2016) Careers in Sports Development. Talk given at Careers in Sport Event, University of St Mark and St John, Plymouth, UK, 2016

Thomas, R. and Long, G (2013), Using small sided games to enhance creativity. Devon FA Twilight Coaches Club: A CPD Event for the FA Licenced Coaches Club

Expert Membership of professional bodies

External Examiner: Sport, Exercise & Coaching Science, University of Hull (DN Colleges Group)

External Examiner: Sport, Exercise & Health, Open University (SW College Group)

Higher Education Academy (Senior Fellow)

FA Licenced Coaches Club

FA Licenced Scouts Club

Roles on external bodies

External Examiner: FdA Football Coaching, University of Central Lancashire (Myerscough College)
External Panel Member (validation event): BA Hons Coaching and Physical Education, Anglia Ruskin University
External Panel Member (validation event): FdA Football Coaching, Bishops Grosseteste University