Bigger, Faster, Stronger? The History of Strength and Conditioning in English Football

The study will be conducted using extensive archival work spanning England, Switzerland, and the United States. The applicant will consult health and fitness magazines, player biographies, coaching manuals, accreditation requirements and newspaper/television interviews. This will be combined with interviews with existing strength coaches with whom the applicant has formed relationships. Archival work will be combined with interviews to produce academic articles and books as well as a public history book for professional coaches. Such research will be done to answer the following questions 1. How did strength and conditioning evolve in English football? 2. Who were the key thinkers and coaches? 3. What, if any, resistance to this training existed? And why?