Laura Payton joined Exeter City as the academy's lead sports scientist in 2023. Following the return of manager Matt Taylor in 2026, she introduced yoga into the first-team routine. 

A sports, health and exercise science graduate of Brunel University, Laura spent a year as a strength and conditioning intern with Watford as part of her course. Along with coaching football and gymnastics, she later combined working as a strengh and conditioning coach for Peterborough United with a stint as a sports coach in a nearby public school.     

By then seeking to upgrade her qualifications, Laura moved to Spain at the start of 2023 to study for a masters in high performance sport (strength and conditioning) at Universidad Catolica San Antonio de Murcia. On the basis of this she was subsequenly appointed Exeter City's lead academy sport scientist in August 2023.