A NORTH-EAST academic who specialises in the psychological factors around football has been recognised for her distinguished contribution to sport and exercise psychology.

Dr Sandy Wolfson, who has held roles as Head of Department and Director of Postgraduate programmes in Northumbria University’s Department of Psychology, is one of the most prominent sport and exercise psychologists in the UK with a specialist interest in football.

She has been commended by the British Psychological Society’s Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology for her outstanding contribution to professional practice.

Dr Wolfson’s research centres around the advantage that teams have when they play at their home ground and the release of the testosterone hormone before home games.

She has worked with clubs including Newcastle United, Sunderland AFC, Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool and with the Football Association.

As well as looking at the psychological factors around players, Dr Wolfson has also researched the impact of football on both referees and fans.

Dr Wolfson said: “I felt very honoured to be notified that I had been chosen for this award. I never expected to get it so it’s a personal pleasure to see that my peers have recognised the contribution I have made to the discipline.”

She added: “Psychology is so important within the field of sport and exercise. For example, I’ve found that footballers individually think they are the only ones in the team to have self-doubt about their performance.

“Perceptions of masculinity can make them think they shouldn’t disclose information about their worries or their performance to their team-mates.

“Working with them, we can help them to develop better resilience and enhance their coping skills which can help to improve their focus and concentration, and ultimately, their performance.”