Nick Watson

Dr Nick J. Watson is Senior Lecturer in Sport, Culture and Religion and head of pastoral care for sports students, York St John University (YSJU), UK. He is currently organizing the Inaugural Global Congress on Sports and Christianity, 2016 (see http://www.yorksj.ac.uk/health--life-sciences/faculty-of-hls/faculty-events/igcsc.aspx ). Nick is the Co-Director (with Prof Andrew Parker) of the Centre for Sport, Spirituality and Religion (CSSR) at the University of Gloucestershire, UK. His doctoral work examined the relationship between modern sports and Christianity drawing on theology and the social sciences. Nick has co-authored / co-edited 7 books on sports and Christianity.

In addition to having coached athletes with disabilities, Nick also has significant experience of coaching football in Spain, the US and the UK and was the founding Head Coach of La Manga Junior Football Academy, Spain (2001-2006). Reflecting his practical and academic background in the world of sport and experience of church leadership, a major aim of Nick’s work is to bridge the theory-practice gap and, in turn, to facilitate the coming together of scholars, athletes, church leaders and practitioners from across all denominations and streams of Christianity, to affect a culture change in the world of sports. This has resulted in presentations for, and collaborations with, universities, churches, think-tanks, disability groups and mission and chaplaincy organizations.