First Team Physiotherapist

Job title

First Team Physiotherapist

Location

Portsmouth FC Training Ground at Pompey Health and Fitness, 442 Copnor Road, Hilsea, Portsmouth PO3 5EW with travel where required

Hours of work

Full time

A minimum of 37.5 hours per week, exact hours and days to be agreed. Due to the nature of the role flexibility is essential. Attendance required at consultant appointments/special events/Off site appointments/Match Day home/away travel.

Reports to

Head of Medical

Remuneration

Competitive; based on experience

Join Our Team - Be Part of Pompey's Future

Portsmouth Football Club is looking to appoint an experienced and highly motivated First Team Physiotherapist to join our Men's First Team Medical Department.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in working closely with the Medical, Sport Science, Strength and Conditioning, and Coaching teams, First Team Players to deliver exceptional physiotherapy, rehabilitation and performance support that keeps our squad ready for every challenge.

Role Summary

The First Team Physiotherapist will play a key role in the delivery of medical care, performance physiotherapy and player readiness within the Portsmouth FC Men's First Team. Working closely with the Head of Medical and Rehabilitation Lead, the role will support the health, availability and performance of players through high-quality assessment, treatment, injury management and rehabilitation, contributing directly to the success of the team on the pitch.

The role requires a proactive, player-centred approach to the assessment and management of injuries, alongside the delivery of performance physiotherapy interventions, including manual therapy, passive treatments and individualised strategies to support physical readiness, recovery and preparation for training and competition.

Working collaboratively across Medical, Rehabilitation, Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition and Coaching, the role will ensure player management is integrated, individualised and aligned to the demands of elite football. Strong communication and close integration across the Performance Department will be essential to ensure continuity of care, effective decision-making and optimal player readiness.

A key component of the role is the ability to build trusted relationships with players, establishing credibility through clinical expertise, communication and an understanding of the demands of elite performance. The role will contribute to the Pompey Performance WAY, helping establish the standards, behaviours and collaborative practices required to maximise player availability, support performance readiness and deliver excellence in first-team medical provision.

Your key responsibilities will include

Injury Management & Clinical Provision

• Deliver high-quality physiotherapy services to all Men's First Team players, supporting optimal health, availability and performance.
• Assess, diagnose and manage player injuries and physical complaints using evidence-based practice, sound clinical reasoning and appropriate clinical assessment techniques.
• Work closely with the Head of Medical and Rehabilitation Lead to develop and deliver appropriate injury management and rehabilitation plans, ensuring players progress through clearly defined clinical and functional markers.
• Provide individualised daily treatment and rehabilitation plans for players under care, adapting interventions according to presentation, progress and training demands.
• Deliver a range of performance physiotherapy interventions, including manual therapy, passive treatments and other appropriate treatment modalities to support player recovery, readiness and performance.
• Communicate clearly and consistently with the multidisciplinary Performance Department regarding the status, management and progression of injured players.
• Provide clear updates to the Head of Medical regarding diagnosis, management plans, progress and anticipated timeframes for injured players.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive medical records, ensuring all treatment and clinical information is documented within the required timeframe.

Performance Readiness & Player Availability

• Work proactively with the Performance Department to assess and influence individual player readiness and availability for training and competition.
• Contribute to daily player availability discussions, providing clear clinical insight to support collaborative decision-making.
• Develop a strong understanding of each player's individual needs, physical profile and performance demands to ensure physiotherapy provision is aligned with their role and training requirements.
• Deliver appropriate pre-training, pre-match, recovery and performance physiotherapy interventions to optimise player readiness.
• Work closely with Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning and Coaching staff to ensure medical and performance strategies are integrated into the daily training environment.

Injury Prevention & Player Robustness

• Contribute to the development and delivery of individualised injury prevention strategies based on screening, injury history, clinical findings and identified risk factors.
• Work alongside the Performance team to influence player pre-activation, preparation and injury prevention routines.
• Identify opportunities through daily clinical practice to improve player robustness, physical capacity and long-term availability.
• Contribute to the analysis of injury trends and patterns, using relevant information to inform preventative strategies and improve the effectiveness of the wider Performance programme.
• Support the Lead Rehabilitation and wider Performance Department in ensuring the transition from rehabilitation into full training is appropriately managed and players are prepared to perform.

Multidisciplinary Integration & Collaboration

• Develop strong working relationships across the Performance Department, including the Head of Medical, Rehabilitation Lead, fellow physiotherapists/therapists, Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition and Coaching.
• Ensure effective communication and information sharing across disciplines to provide a coordinated and player-centred approach to performance and medical management.
• Contribute clinical expertise to multidisciplinary player management and performance planning.
• Build trusted relationships with players through excellent communication, clinical expertise and a clear understanding of how performance physiotherapy contributes to success on the pitch.
• Promote a collaborative, high-performance culture and contribute to the development and implementation of the Pompey Performance WAY.

Matchday & First Team Medical Provision

• Provide physiotherapy and medical support during matchday preparation, including pre-match treatments and interventions as required.
• Attend all home fixtures and provide appropriate physiotherapy support throughout the pre-match period and matchday environment.
• Travel with the First Team as required, providing physiotherapy provision and treatment before, during and following fixtures.
• Provide appropriate post-match assessment, treatment and recovery interventions to support player availability for subsequent training and competition.
• Be available, where required, at short notice following matches to assess and manage player presentations.

Player Medicals & External Consultations

• Play an active role in pre-signing medical assessments as required, contributing appropriate physiotherapy and clinical insight to recruitment decisions.
• Accompany players to external medical consultations, specialist appointments and investigations as required.
• Maintain effective communication with external medical providers and ensure relevant information is appropriately communicated back to the club's multidisciplinary team.

Professional Standards, Governance & Development

• Maintain high standards of clinical governance, professional practice, confidentiality and safeguarding across all aspects of the role.
• Manage FA Daily Whereabouts requirements as required, ensuring the Club remains compliant with relevant regulations.
• Complete all mandatory training and qualifications required by the Club, League and governing bodies, including ATMMiF where applicable.
• Maintain and develop professional knowledge through appropriate Continuing Professional Development, ensuring current evidence and best practice are translated into the Portsmouth FC environment.
• Contribute to the development of physiotherapy processes, policies and Standard Operating Procedures within the Performance Department.
• Support the ongoing development of the Pompey Performance WAY, contributing to a culture of excellence, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.