In The Hot Seat: UCFB Wembley Research Methods lecturer Dr Ella Tagliavini

In the latest episode of In the Hot Seat, Dr Ella Tagliavini joins us to talk about her career at UCFB alongside her playing career.

Dr Ella, who is a lecturer in research methods at UCFB Wembley, plays for Fulham FC Women’s first team, as well as a sports psychologist in training at the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences.

She joined us on the latest episode of our podcast series to discuss balancing a career on and off the pitch, and also coming back to playing after two serious injuries.

Speaking about her role at UCFB, she said: I’m mainly responsible for research methods that takes place in Semester B.

And I think research sometimes gets a little bit of a bad rap. And maybe students aren’t particularly always appreciative of the power of research and how that translates into the sports industry or the sports business industry.

I think one of the key messages that I always try and share or get across to students is to be open-minded and not see research as just white coats, laboratory settings, very isolated away from, you know, the general applied practice of sport.

They should understand how the research we do in the fields can look very different, but does have a huge impact on the decisions that we make individually as clubs, organisations, as senior stakeholders that sort of transform the sports industry and make it a better place for everyone.”

She added: “I’ve been doing that here for the last two years now. So, yeah, it’s been really nice experience to see students get involved in the power of research and how that can translate into the sports industry.”

After some time out of playing football due to injury, Ella is now playing for Fulham once more and thoroughly enjoying life on the pitch again.

“As soon as you hear ACL rupture,” she said, “your mind just goes blank and your heart just sinks, your stomach drops. It’s something that you really don’t want to hear. Particularly as a female footballer as well.

I know that obviously we’re seeing a trend in the rise of ACL injuries in women’s football in particular. I tore my first one back in 2020 just after the first lockdown, recovered and then three months after returning, I tore the other one. That was in 2021.

“I thought my football career was done, and then I got to the end of my PhD and had a conversation with my now manager at Fullam, and we thought we’d give it another go and It seems to be the best decision I’ve made.

“We won the league last year, going unbeaten. We won 20 out of the 22 games and drew the other two.”

She finished by offering some advice to students wanting a career in the sports industry.

“Do not stop,” she said. “It is relentless, if I’m being totally honest with you.

“Even for me, with, you know, my background, experiences, qualifications, etc. You cannot rest.

“And I know that sounds like a big task ahead of you, particularly when you’re just starting out. But I think it’s exciting.

“Honestly, the world is your oyster. There’s so many opportunities out there. But I think you just really got to be relentless and proactive in the way that you try and create opportunities.

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