Our mission is to help people upgrade performance, on and off the pitch.

Founded in 2009, the Southern Academy of Sport has helped thousands of athletes level up their performance, working with athletes from Recreational Adults, Youth, to High Potential and High Performance, including international athletes in 24 sports, UFC fighters, Olympians and Commonwealth athletes.

We believe that sport and physical activity offer a vehicle for improvement throughout an individual's life. We have helped several young athletes secure academic scholarships at schools and universities, and work with companies and organisations to apply the principles of high performance sport to the performance and wellbeing of their teams.

Our goal is to facilitate autonomy and self-reliance in our athletes, and so education is at the heart of our services. We structure this education through the four foundations of performance:

Movement

Nutrition

Mindset

Recovery

Joe Alford

Joe graduated from the University of Exeter in 2006, where he gained a BSc in Exercise Science (2:1).

During his career, he has accumulated over 20,000 hours of hands-on coaching and has been responsible for the development of athletes from over twenty sports, at levels ranging from youth athletes to Olympians and professional athletes in sports including athletics, equestrian and the UFC.

Joe is the Academy's Managing Director and works as a part-time lecturers at the University of West of England.

Joe Hunt

Joe is a graduate of the University of Portsmouth, with a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science and an MSc in Strength, Conditioning & Rehabilitation.

Joe has experience in professional football, having spent a year on placement with Portsmouth FC.

As Lead Strength and Conditioning coach, Joe heads up programming and coaching throughout the academy, and is also Lead for our Chippenham Town FC provision.

Tom Easen

Tom is a Chartered Physiotherapist, graduating with a BSc in Physiotherapy from Keele University.

Tom is the Academy's medical partner alongside his role with the Ministry of Defence, where his experience has included rehabilitating injured soldiers at Headley Court.

Tom runs a private clinic from the Academy's headquarters, as well as leading medical provision for Bath Rugby Women.

Max Clissold

Max joined the Academy as a placement student as part of our partnership with the University of Bath in 2003.

After impressing with his contribution to our Chippenham Town FC provision, Max now coaches part time at the Academy facility as well as leading Chippenham Town FC first team matchday provision.

George Jenkins

George graduated from Cardiff Metropolitan University with a BSc in Sport, Rehabilitation & Massage and an MSc in Strength & Conditioning.

A former Team GB Bobsleigh athlete and a keen rugby player, George provides Strength & Conditioning support to Bath Rugby Women.

Conor Scott

Conor graduated from Bath Spa University with a BSc in Psychology and gained an MSc in Sports Psychology from the University of Staffordshire.

A former MMA fighter and current rugby player, Conor coaches at the Academy's facility as well as contributing to the design and delivery of athlete education provision.

Jaz Barraclough

Jaz coaches in the academy facility after a successful undergraduate placement in 2022.

She has since graduated from the University of Bath with a BSc in Sports Scieince, and is undertaking an MSc in Sports Rehabilitation, pursuing her passion for helping injured athletes.

Ethan Haddock

Ethan joins the Academy for the 24/25 academic year on placement from the University of West of England, where he is studying a BSc in Graduate Sports Rehabilitation.

Ethan assists the medical and strength and conditioning teams both at the facility and with Bath Rugby women, and has a background in football and swimming.

Liv Taylor

Liv joins the Academy for the 24/25 academic year on placement from the University of Bath. She is a Level 2 qualified coach and coaches in the academy facility and our contract with Wiltshire Cricket.

Liv has been an academy athlete for the past two years, playing a leading role in Bath Rugby Women's sevens program.