Meet the Staff

As our Head of Medical, Sophie is passionate about supporting student-athletes to train, compete and perform at their best. She works closely with the sports therapists and performance teams to manage athlete care, coordinate rehabilitation pathways, and support athlete development.

Sophie holds a BSc in Kinesiology and Human Performance, which she completed whilst playing football on scholarship in the United States, alongside an MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Medicine from the University of Nottingham. She has played football professionally, competing in both the Women's Super League 1 and Women's Super League 2 before returning home to continue playing for Hull City Ladies and begin her role at Bishop Burton College.

Having experienced the demands of balancing education, performance and rehabilitation throughout her own career, Sophie understands the physical and psychological challenges that student-athletes face. Her experiences as both an athlete and Head of Medical enable her to build strong relationships with students and create an environment where young athletes feel supported to achieve their full potential.

Max Longley is the Women and Girls Sports Therapist at Bishop Burton College, supporting the Rugby, Football, and Netball programmes. He provides injury assessment, rehabilitation, pitch-side cover, and preventative care to help athletes perform at their best.

Max graduated from the University of Lincoln in 2024 with a Master’s Degree in Sports Therapy and is a registered member of the Society of Sports Therapists (SST). He holds a Level 4 FAW/UEFA Pitch-Side qualification and Level 3 First Aid.

Now entering his third season working within elite sport, Max has also gained valuable experience as a Sports Therapist with Hull City Academy. In this role, he has supported the development of young athletes within a professional football environment. 

Emma Slater is the Academy Sports Therapist at Bishop Burton College, where she plays a key role in supporting both the boys’ rugby and football academies. In this position, she is responsible for the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of student-athletes, helping them maintain peak performance and recover effectively from injury.

Emma is Level 2 PHICIS qualified and fully accredited by BASRaT. She is a graduate of the University of Hull, where she developed a strong foundation in sports therapy and rehabilitation practices.

Alongside her work at the college, Emma also holds the role of Head of Medical at Hull City Ladies, where she oversees all aspects of player health, injury prevention, and medical care within the team environment.

Emma is passionate about supporting athletes on their journey to recovery and performance. She particularly enjoys working closely with players to help them overcome injuries and return to doing what they love most - competing in sport with confidence and resilience.

Connor Brewster is our Specialist Rugby coach; he has a passion for developing young talented players to reach their goals and become the best players they can while being a student at Bishop Burton College.

Connor has experience in coaching at various levels from grassroot clubs, university teams and PDG groups. He is currently coaching within the Yorkshire Player Development Group, helping develop young players to reach their full potential within the pathway. He has a real drive for developing players skills and understanding of the sport, as the Specialist Rugby Coach Connor spends a lot of one-to-one time with players refining their skills.

Tom Watson is the Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach at Bishop Burton College, where he works with athletes across a range of sports to support their physical development. He is an IUSCA-accredited coach, holding a Bsc Sport Rehabilitation and an Msc in Strength & Conditioning enabling him to deliver high-quality, evidence based training. 

Alongside his role at Bishop Burton, Tom is also Lead S&C Coach for Hull FC Scholarship Rugby League programme, helping to prepare young athletes for the demands of elite sport. 

Tom is passionate about developing well-rounded athletes, focusing on building strong physical foundations, movement quality, and resilience to help players succeed both in sport and in their future endeavours