Lecturer in Sports Research
Alan is a former professional footballer, having played for Manchester United and Exeter City, before sadly being forced to retire at the age of 24. He has since gone into academia and has been teaching within further and higher education for 16 years.
He currently supervises third year students on their dissertation projects, specifically around the topics of mental skills, mental health, transitions in football and psychological challenges for players making their way in the game. Alan also delivers material associated with contemporary issues within sport, coaching philosophy, talent development and research methods on both UCFB’s MSc and BA provision.
Alan is currently undertaking a PhD on exploring critical moments, identity and meaning amongst professional football players, and has used auto-ethnography, phenomenological interviews and survey based methodology to collect data around key psychological challenges of players pre, during and post a professional football career.
- Elite level sport;
- Elite level sport psychology;
- Qualitative research.
- Transitions/critical moments;
- Identity;
- Mental health;
- Psychological demands on elite athletes.
- FHEA (Fellow of the Higher Education Academy);
- Member of BASES;
- Member of AFMUP (Association of Former Manchester United Players).
- BSc (Hons) (2003) Leisure and Sports Science, Bolton Institute of Higher Education;
- PGCE (2004) Further, Higher and Adult Education, Bolton Institute of Higher Education;
- MPhil (2010) Exploring the use of imagery function amongst elite level UK professional footballers.
- Barton, W. (2014). Fergie’s Fledglings. (Contributory information). Vertical Editions;
- Kay, O. (2016). Forever Young. (Contributory information). Quercus Books;
- Park, T., & Hobin, S. (2014). Sons of United. (Contributory information);
- Tonge, A. (2018). The 12-yard stare: Why is it so significant for England to win a penalty shoot-out? UCFB, In Focus;
- Tonge, A. (2018). ‘Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!’ UCFB, In Focus;
- Tonge, A. (2018). “You get knocked down you get back up again, it’s the only way” An auto-ethnographical account of a professional footballer’s journey, Competing in the Dark Mental Health Conference, 21st March;
- Tonge, A. (2017). The Psychological Demands of a Professional Footballer. UCFB, In Focus;
- Tonge, A. (2016). Exploring critical moments, identity and meaning amongst professional football players. BPS Conference presentation, 13th December;
- Tonge, A. (2015). Exploring critical moments, identity and meaning amongst professional football players. BASES Student Conference presentation, 1st April;
- Tonge, A. (2014). Van Gaal needs to get players singing from the same hymn sheet. Retro United;
- Tonge, A. (2011). Team Spirit, where does it come from? Man United Football Fanzine, Issue 6, p44-45;
- Tonge, A. Littlewood, M.A. & Eubank, M.E. (2010). Exploring the use of imagery function amongst elite level UK professional football players. Unpublished MPhil Thesis.
- PGCE student mentor;
- Taught for over 15 years in further and higher education;
- Teaching and learning coach;
- External advisor for validation of sports coaching and sports science degree programmes;
- Opposition scout at a Championship/Premier League Level football club.
