Ben and Frazer visit MK Dons for this edition of All Things Business – The Podcast. They’re interviewing Simon Crampton, Performance and Operations Director. It’s his 18th season at the club, during which time he’s worked his way up through the physiotherapy ranks to director level.
The Evolution of his Career
His career began with his love of biology and PE at school, as well as first aid through Cubs. He then did a sports therapy course at university, which was a relatively new concept at the time. This experience got him part time roles at London Wasps rugby club and QPR football club, which made him realise he wanted to work full time in sports. After an MA course which allowed him to become a chartered physiotherapist, he was offered roles at Wasps and MK Dons, ultimately choosing the Dons and beginning his career there as an academy physiotherapist.
Ben says that 18 years in any job is impressive, but in football it’s particularly notable. Simon Crampton discusses how his role has changed over time, both as he’s progressed into more senior roles and as sports science has matured as a profession. He talks about finding out of date medications in a first aid kit when he first joined, to now having a data-fuelled profile of every player which helps to dictate their training. Even now, he’s returned to university to ensure he has the cutting knowledge needed to compete.
Sports Science
While data plays an ever more important part in sport and in business, Frazer asks about how sports scientists deal with the intangibles, things like a sense of momentum, individual player personalities and club culture, giving the example of Northampton Saints who seem to feel like they’re going to win every week and then fulfil that promise. There’s also a mental health aspect, where Simon giving the example of Dele Alli, who he worked with, a clearly talented player who has been plagued by self-doubt and other mental health issues.
Ideal Dinner Party Guests
Of course, the podcast comes to a close with a classic dinner party question. Simon initially speaks about his wife and children, but Ben and Frazer won’t let him get away with that. He relents and picks Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson as football representatives, and Kurt Cobain.
Hear all this and more on this episode of All Things Business – The Podcast. Watch and listen here:
