Medical Staff's Big-Time Treatment

Vastly-experienced Non-league Physiotherapist Gavin Blackwell Looks Back At When His Ave Been In The Spotlight.

OVER the years we have seen medical staff make the headlines in many different circumstances - some positive and many negative.

In 1977, Manchester United physio Laurie Brown was in the news in unhappy circumstances. Red Devils gaffer Tommy Docherty had had an affair with his wife Mary.

It would ultimately cost Docherty his job, when he famously said: “I have been sacked for falling in love.”

And what about Oldham’s first game in the new-fangled Premier League at Chelsea in 1992? Physio Ian Liversedge, 5ft 5ins, a real character by the way, was arrested after a misunderstanding with 6ft 8ins bouncers in a hotel nightclub.

Latics boss Joe Royle climbed out of bed to bail him out of the cells at 4am. But Liversedge’s colourful life in football underlines the priceless value of the profession.

Another story that springs to mind is prior to a July pre-season friendly between Wolves and Liverpool at Molineux. Liverpool physio Mark Leather had an infamous fall-out with manager Gerard Houllier over the treatment of Michael Owen.

Houllier opted to send Owen abroad for treatment of his problematic hamstring injury. It resulted in Leather being suspended and later leaving his role.

Manchester United have probably hit the headlines more than any other club on the medical side. The Red Devils opted to sack club doctor Mike Stone after a dispute with Sir Alex Ferguson.