Keeping the footballers at Stratford Town FC on top of their game!

I’ve always been very passionate about football and have been from an early age. As a young lad I regularly used to watch Coventry City play at Highfield Road with my family. Football was central to everything I did (and do). Working in a football club was always my dream vocation, it didn’t feel like a ‘job’, but more something I enjoy and am passionate about. 

 

My interest in anatomy, and my passion for the treatment and rehabilitation of sporting injuries, began from the age of 16 when I injured my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing football. Becoming a sports massage therapist and physio seemed the natural next step to take! 

 

I qualified as a sports therapist graduating from University College Birmingham in 2015, then I joined Fire & Earth. This season I’m also at Stratford Town FC who are in the Evo-Stik Southern League. Previously I've been at Daventry Town FC. 

I’m the only medical staff member at a semi-professional football club. This brings its own challenges as you can imagine. However, it’s a great team to be working in and I’m proud to be a part of it. 

 

My role is to do all the players pre-season screening to prevent injuries from occurring, to implement a stretching routine, taping/strapping, the rehabilitation of any injured players, pre and post game massage, and to provide pitchside first aid as and when required. 

 

At a semi-professional level the squad depth isn’t big, the number of players are limited and it’s important that a player recovers as quickly as possible. When the top players get injured there is a lot of impetus to get them back onto the field sooner rather than later. This can be quite stressful (for me and the player!) especially as sometimes the players need more rest and recovery time than they get. On the other hand, it is a very rewarding process seeing a player who has been injured and is miserable on the touchline get back to full fitness and start playing again. 

 

First up for assessment and treatment was 1st team player and wide midfielder Simeon Tulloch. 

 

The niggling injury he picked up at the end of last season was assessed and treated. Some choice words were heard! 

I’ve just passed the FA level 4 Intermediate Trauma Medical Management in Football (ITMMiF) course. The knowledge and experience I gain from working at Fire & Earth obviously helps at the football ground too, and having a better understanding of football-related injuries gives me more expertise in treating my clients at Fire & Earth too. It really is a win win (albeit that I’m very busy!) 

Clients often ask about my life as a massage therapist and how I juggle my job, my own training, my family commitments and being a physio for Stratford Town FC… good question! It’s about being organised really. At the end of the day, this feels more like a vocation for me rather than a ‘job’ and when you are passionate about something everything just fits into place! 

 

Don’t suffer with a niggle or an injury, come in and see us! 

 

Contact us to book your appointment with Jordan at Simply Gym Coventry, or use our online booking system. Any questions? Email jordan@fireandearthuk.com