Matthew's Profile
Job title
Senior Lecturer
Academic qualifications
BSc Sport Science, PGCE PCE Sport and Exercise Science, MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition
"My industry experience includes working as a performance nutritionist for Aston Villa Women’s U21s and U16s teams, which keeps me closely connected to the realities of elite sport and ensures that everything I teach is grounded in real-world, evidence-based practice."
I’m a registered performance nutritionist (SENr) and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), specialising in sport and exercise nutrition, nutrition for performance, and research methods. I teach on the BSc Strength, Conditioning and Sport Nutrition programme here at UCB, where I’m proud to combine my practical experience with academic knowledge to help shape the next generation of practitioners.
My background is hands-on: I’ve worked in strength and conditioning, spent time as a personal trainer, and now work in practice as a performance nutritionist. I also support the Aston Villa Women’s U21s and U16s teams as their performance nutritionist, which keeps me closely connected to the realities of elite sport and ensures that everything I teach is grounded in real-world, evidence-based practice.
Research is another big part of my professional life. I’ve published work on rapid weight loss and gain in combat sport athletes, and contributed a chapter on sports and exercise nutrition to the Routledge Handbook of Sports and Exercise Therapy. I enjoy bringing my up-to-date, research-driven insights into the classroom.
What motivates me most is helping people to understand nutrition, explore their behaviours, and make informed choices. I always remind my students that if something in nutrition sounds new or flashy, it’s probably not evidence-informed. The core principles of nutrition are what really matter.
It’s a privilege to pass on my knowledge and insights to aspiring practitioners, and I love to see my students grow in confidence and expertise. In turn, students often tell me that my passion for the field shines through in my classes. I encourage my students to make the most of their time at UCB by getting involved in all the studies, extra courses, and societies that they can.
Outside of work, you’ll find me training in the gym with fellow UCB lecturer Nathan Price, playing guitar, or learning the harmonica.
Research
- Matthews, J. J., Stanhope, E. N., Godwin, M. S., Holmes, M. E. J. and Artioli, G. G. (2018) ‘The magnitude of rapid weight loss (RWL) and rapid weight gain (RWG) in combat sport athletes habitually preparing for competition: a systematic review’. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 9, pp. 1-32.
Book chapter - Routledge Handbook of Sports and Exercise Therapy - Chapter Sports and Exercise Nutrition