Bell to head new Psychology and Wellbeing department at Brighton
Bell has previously worked with the Cleveland Browns
Written by Simon Austin — July 20, 2020
JAMES BELL, UK Sport’s Head of Culture Development and Mental Health, is to lead a new Performance Psychology and Wellbeing department at Brighton.
The idea of having a department dedicated to wellbeing - of staff and players - as well as psychology is a first in English football. The staffing of the new department will be sub-contracted to Warrington-based Changing Minds, which was set up in 2007 by James Bickley and Andrew Rogers to “apply psychology within traditional services”.
Bell has been with UK Sport since February 2017 and has a compelling CV. In December 2018, he was appointed as the organisation’s first Head of Mental Health, as well as leading culture development.
Prior to this, he was lead for psychology for the RFU and performance psychologist for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL. From 2008 to 2013, Bell was Performance Psychologist for the ECB’s Development Programme.
Dan Ashworth, appointed as Brighton’s Technical Director in September 2018 after six years with the Football Association, has overseen the revamp of Brighton's psychology department.
Sarah Murray, who has been with the club for seven years, moves over from Performance Psychology Manager to work with Hope Powell's Women’s Super League team.
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