Physios to the stars treat the public

Apr 25 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

IT may be the dream of every Newcastle fan to be pandered to like a top-flight footballer, but usually it’s just a fantasy.

But now members of the Toon Army can take advantage of the services of professional physios after a group of backroom staff, more accustomed to treating the ailments of Owen, Martins and Viduka, set up their own clinic.

Backed by record goalscorer Alan Shearer, three current and former members of Newcastle’s physio team are offering treatment at The Osborne Clinic in Jesmond to battered and bruised sportsmen and women.

The physio centre employs the likes of Derek Wright, who has spent 25 years getting to grips with the best football talent to grace Newcastle, from David Ginola to Faustino Asprilla and Les Ferdinand to David Batty.

One of the only full-time members of the team is Kevin Bell, who spent nine years with the club. The 42 year-old said: “We didn’t want to be in football all our lives because it’s very demanding. I’m enjoying this because it’s a variation on what we were doing.

“We offer physiotherapy for any complaint, right across the broad spectrum of sports. We have people from nine-year-olds to 90-year-olds coming in. Even Alan Shearer comes in on a regular basis when he has an injury.

“Personally I worked at various levels with Newcastle. I worked in the community, then with the academy and then with the first team.

“When we bought this practice we were trying to do both, working with Newcastle and running this from a distance.

“But we had no time and the practice suffered. We talked to people about running it for us but we couldn’t agree, so I left the club and I do it full-time now.”

Other members of the team include current Aston Villa club doctor Roddy McDonald, who also spent a year as physio at Newcastle either side of a seven- year stint at Celtic.

John Wright, an accident and emergency specialist with a sports medicine diploma, completes the team.

Kevin said: “What we did was buy an existing business. It was here for about 20 years, but they were looking to sell, and we were looking for somewhere to carry on as physios with the sports element.”