He’s one of the UK’s leading fitness experts transforming the elite end of sport ranging from professional golf to Premiership football, now Dr Stephen McGregor will return to the Sunderland campus where it all began 21 years ago.
Dr McGregor was a graduate of the first cohort of the Sport and Exercise Sciences department at the University of Sunderland in 1995 and has since gone on to an incredible career working within elite sport.
He’s been credited with transforming the fitness regimes of golfers Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood, and was amongst the first practitioners to introduce sports science to professional football in England at Leeds United, Aston villa and Manchester City. He’s now working with the Lawn Tennis Association to help shape the future of British tennis.
In addition he’s worked as consultant for GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo and Adidas, is a Brand Ambassador and Consultant Physiologist for Nike and was part of the Ryder Cup European Team Support from 2010 -2014.
He is now Institute Director at the newly opened £17m Manchester Institute of Health and Performance and will be delivering a talk about his career and achievements to date – From Liverpool to the World of Elite Sport via Sunderland, on Thursday, May 12, at City Campus, Chester Road, Sunderland.
Current students are being invited to the event by the Sports Academic Team. The talk is also open to anyone who wishes to attend.
Dr McGregor said: “I was delighted to hear from my old University and I am very happy to take the opportunity to speak about my career and the varied roles that I have undertaken. I am sure that much will have changed since my time at Sunderland and I look forward to meeting with former colleagues and students.”
Ian Whyte said: “It’s heartening to welcome back such a strong ambassador for our Department. Dr McGregor has forged a path of excellence from his student days until now, and, in this 21st year of graduates from our programmes, is a shining beacon and role model to all of our students.”
With a BSc physiology and sport science degree from Sunderland, Dr McGregor went on to earn a PhD in physiology at Loughborough University. Following the completion of his studies he was appointed as an academic member of staff at Sunderland and then Durham University. In addition to being a published academic, he took an active involvement in the support of elite athletes culminating in a transition to full time roles within a range of professional sports.
Dr McGregor’s continued interest in the aetiology of injury resulted in the completion of an additional MSc and clinical practice within physiotherapy. He now has more than 20 years’ experience working with various populations in both elite sport and health care settings. Due to these experiences Dr McGregor is committed to working across a range of physical states including illness, injury, wellbeing and elite sports performance.
Tea and coffee available from 5pm Dale Building Foyer during which time current students will present dissertation posters. All staff, students, friends and family welcome.
Dr McGregor’s lecture will then take place at 6.30pm in Murray Library Lecture Theatre.