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Best of Neighbours: UEL team-up with Leyton Orient to offer cutting-edge sports science support

Thursday 16 December 2010

Leyton Orient

Students and staff from UEL’s School of Health and Bio-Science have spent the last six months putting players from professional football club Leyton Orient FC through their paces as part of a rigorous fitness regime.

A specially designed programme created by UEL applied sports science experts offered high-intensity testing and workouts to both first and youth team players, aiming to improve core-strength, increase stamina, and reduce the risk of injury.

First-team squad-members were put through a vigorous progressive maximal treadmill test. This allowed exercise physiologist, Kim Hastings, to assess several performance-related factors, including the maximum amount of oxygen players could breathe in and deploy within their muscles, heart rate and the chemical reaction (lactate production) that indicates fatigue. This in addition to an array of performance testing (speed, power, agility and endurance), weight training and conditioning workouts completed by the youth team, enabled individualised training programmes to help improved performances on the pitch.

The O’s, as Leyton Orient is affectionately known, opened its doors to the UEL team shortly before the official kick-off to the present season. The club, formed in 1888, is based a stones-throw away from UEL’s Stratford campus.

Dr.  Nick Bourne, UEL Programme Leader for the Strength and Conditioning MSc course, said: “As next-door neighbours it was an obvious partnership that we were delighted to be involved with. The players have really taken on board ways to improve performance, and we are now seeing that on the pitch.”

Leyton Orient Manager, Russell Slade, said: “We are grateful to all the UEL staff and students for their support, in particular for providing key physiological data for feedback to our players. Nick and his team have made a significant contribution, not only in terms of playing performance, but also in terms of educating our young players on correct technique and the importance of looking after their bodies. We certainly hope to continue and develop our relationship with UEL in the future.”

Third year sports science student Esin Eminue, said:”The experience of providing fitness testing to the senior Leyton Orient team enabled me to gain an invaluable insight into the levels of physical conditioning required in professional football.”

Volunteer Strength and Conditioning Coach, Matt Tansley, added: “Working with the Leyton Orient youth team allowed me to gain priceless strength and conditioning experience, helping me to grow as a coach and develop the skills needed to succeed."

The University of East London aims to become London's top sports university within the next five years.

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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