Our Performance Sports programme is dedicated to helping student-athletes reach their full potential. A crucial part of this journey is our expert Strength & Conditioning (S&C) support. Introducing one of the key figures behind the scenes, our S&C coach, who works closely with our performance teams and elite scholarship athletes.
Introducing…. Jemma Pemberton
From Student to Supporting Essex’s Elite Athletes
Jemma completed an undergraduate degree in Sports Therapy from the University of Kent in 2019 before pursuing a master’s in Strength & Conditioning at Middlesex University in 2020. She is Lead Sports Therapist for Chelmsford Chieftains Ice Hockey Team, Thurrock T-Birds RFC, and Dagenham RFC.
At Essex, she works alongside Head S&C Coach Justin Mills, collaborating with head coaches to develop athlete-specific training, address injuries, and set goals for our performance sports teams and sports scholarship athletes, including:
- Basketball: Essex Rebels and Blades men’s & women’s first teams
- Volleyball: Essex Rebels and Blades men’s & women’s first teams
- Football: Essex Blades men’s & women’s first teams
- Tennis: Essex Blades men’s & women’s first teams
- Individuals: Para sports athletes in blind football & VI judo, and individual sports scholarship athletes in athletics, fencing, and field hockey
Q&A
What inspired you to pursue a career in performance sport?
When I was younger, I dreamed of being a professional athlete, but due to many injuries, that wasn’t possible. Sport has always been a huge part of my life, so I wanted a career that allowed me to be involved in professional sport but as part of the support team. My experience with physios meant I understood the protocols of rehab and wanted to be that support for someone in the same situation. As well as physio, I have always loved training in the gym. So, studying for my masters in Strength and Conditioning appealed as I could merge S&C and Sports Therapy which helps with the return to play aspect of rehab, and I was able to broaden my career path.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Seeing my athletes achieve their goals. Whether that’s to win a trophy at the end of the season, to get their team promoted, hit a personal best in the gym or even come back from a serious injury. All the hard work put in to help them get to where they want to be and achieve their dreams is the most rewarding part. The endless hours, late nights, highs and lows, all become worth it when they’re standing there with a medal around their neck.
Have you faced any challenges as a woman in sport, and how did you overcome them?
I have been told a few times in my life that women have no place in professional sports, especially within a male environment. I have been told that it is inappropriate, that we won’t be respected, and that we don’t understand what it is like to be a professional athlete. But if anything, that has fuelled me more to prove them wrong.
I was the first woman to be employed by the AELTC to work in the performance gyms at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and I helped manage the gyms for 3 separate tournaments. I have predominately worked for men’s teams (Rugby and Ice Hockey) and been the only woman within that environment, building relationships and finding a way for the coaches and players to trust and respect me.
I do feel that as a woman, I have to prove my worth and my abilities more than a man would, but if I find myself in an environment where I’m not treated with respect, then I leave and find somewhere else that does appreciate and treat me as equal.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring women in sport?
Follow your dreams, and don’t let anyone tell you you’re not capable!!
If you want to be the head coach of a men's or women’s team, or physio for a professional team, or any role within sport, do everything you can to put yourself in the right place. Volunteer for all the local teams, get experience, complete as many courses as it takes, and then build experience and connections. Working in sports takes sacrifices - late nights, unpaid work, long hours, working weekends, standing on the side of a pitch in the rain. If you can prove to people that you are loyal and committed through all of that, then you will achieve anything you want.
How do you see women’s roles in sports evolving in the future?
Women’s sports have skyrocketed within the past 3-5 years. The media coverage and the support female athletes are starting to receive has been phenomenal. It’s breaking down barriers and showing the world that women can do it just as well and that we are worth investing in, allowing more opportunities for women in leading coaching roles.
However, across all professional sports teams in the UK (men & women), only 14% have female head coaches, compared to less than 10% from 10 years ago. There is still a long way to go to bridge the significant gender gap, but it is heading in the right direction.
What’s one achievement in your role that you’re most proud of?
There have been many proud moments since working at Essex. A recent proud moment was witnessing 3 of our performance teams (men's & women’s volleyball and women’s basketball) become BUCS National Champions.
Image: 2025 BUCS Big Wednesday Champions (Photo: @sanne.hoffman.photography)
But my proudest moments have been working with my para-athletes. Mustafa & Emily are both blind/visually impaired and on scholarship programmes. Mustafa plays blind football for England, and Emily is a VI Judo athlete on the Paralympic pathway. I am so proud of the relationships I have built with them, to build trust and for them to allow me to push them out of their comfort zone. Mustafa can easily jump onto a 35-inch box unassisted, and Emily can deadlift nearly twice her body weight and trains under the GB Paralympic coach. I’m really excited to see what we can achieve next.
Discover how our Performance Sport programme at Essex can support your overall development.
Follow our student athlete's journey on Instagram @uniessexperform.
Sport scholarships and bursaries.
We are committed to supporting and developing high performance athletes. Find out whether you could be eligible for a sport scholarship or bursary, plus a range of additional benefits too when you join the University of Essex.
