Jimmy joined the department in 2007 from Staffordshire University where he worked as a Research Assistant (2006-7). His research interests and expertise focus on the development and implementation of youth sport policy and programmes, ranging from community/grassroots settings to the development of participation and performance. Jimmy has undertaken research and consultancy on behalf of local and national organisations in this context. His PhD, awarded by Loughborough University and funded by the Football Association, Evaluated the implementation of the FA Charter Standard, on which his emerging publication record is based. He is currently involved research projects on various youth sport policy and development projects that are national and international in scope