Our Collaborators
John Batten
Senior Lecturer, University of Winchester
John has been a lecturer in the Department of Sport, Exercise and Health at The University of Winchester since January 2008. He is currently Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology.
John completed a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science and MSc in Psychology of Sport and Exercise, followed by a Certificate in Counselling Skills at the University of Chichester. He then later completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and Post Graduate Certificate in Research Skills at The University of Winchester.
John is currently in the process of further study towards his PhD and is an active education, exercise and sport consultant. In particular, he has experience in working with academy football and development squads and works closely with both the NHS and Portsmouth City Council. John also holds a Certificate in Tagging Analysis and a Certificate in Video Analysis from the Dartfish Academy, as well as an FA Level 1 Award in Coaching Football.
Dr Melanie Lang
Senior Lecturer, Edge Hill University
Melanie joined Edge Hill in 2010, following a stint at York Saint John University. Before that, she worked at Leeds Metropolitan University, where she also completed her doctorate in good practice and child protection in sport, and before returning to higher education she was a journalist working on national, regional and international newspapers.
A keen competitive swimmer, Melanie competes to a national standard in Master’s events and holds swimming teaching and swimming coaching licenses from the Amateur Swimming Association.
Melanie’s research interests centre on athlete and child welfare in sport, children’s rights in youth sport and the interpretation and of child safeguarding regulations in sport by stakeholders including children and coaches.
Dr Rachael Bullingham
Senior Lecturer in Physical Education, University of Worcester
Rachael is a senior lecturer in Physical Education at the University of Worcester. She previously taught Physical Education in a secondary school, as well as performing various pastoral roles. In addition to teaching she has been involved in research and has recently published on the topic of homophobia in sport. Rachael is currently studying for a PhD analysing the experiences of openly lesbian athletes participating in team sports. She is a keen sport player and currently plays hockey; previously she has both played and officiated rugby. Rachael also enjoys outdoor sports particularly sailing where she has won national titles, as crew, in the yachting world dayboat class.
Dr Rory Magrath
Senior Lecturer, Southampton Solent University
Dr Rory Magrath is Senior Lecturer in the School of Sport, Health and Social Sciences at Southampton Solent University, and Programme Director for BA (Hons) Football Business Management and BA (Hons) Football Studies and Business.
He is a qualitative sociologist who examines the contemporary intersection of sport (particularly football), gender and sexuality. His research documents declining levels of homophobia among young, elite British footballers, and among football fans. He has also conducted research on the impact of the sports media on LGBT athletes, as well as men's friendships.Furthermore, his research has also shown that, as homophobia continues to decline in Anglo-American culture, young men are socially permitted to exhibit more physical and emotional intimacy with one another.
He has written two books, with two others forthcoming, and has published articles in a range of internationally-recognised academic journals.
He holds a BA (Hons) degree in Football Studies from Southampton Solent University (2010), an MSc in Sociology of Sport from Loughborough University (2011), and a PhD from the University of Winchester (2015), under the supervision of Professor Eric Anderson - who is widely recognised as a leading academic expert on sex, gender and sexuality.
