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‘Take every opportunity and if they are not coming to you, go and find them,’ is the message to Graduate and Student Members of The Society of Sports Therapists, from University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) Graduate, Sara Gray, who is now Academy Sports Therapist at Swansea City AFC. And she herself has certainly done just that. At a time when Sara’s final year was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, when her studies were crucially curtailed through lockdown, just days before completing her final trauma module, this dedicated and driven young woman has managed to forge a new career as a Sports Therapist in a sport that she loves. Like many students at the time, the enforced delay in graduating due the pandemic seemed to Sara like ‘the worst thing in the world’ but it actually turned out to be the opposite. Sara said : ‘As a cohort, because we had to spend two or three months focusing on trauma, we knew it inside out. By the time we were examined in July we’d had so much time to read, to do research – we were writing on whiteboards, doing zoom calls with each other to make sure we were picking up the same things and on the same wavelength.’ When Sara and the group finally got back onto campus, it was a very different place to the one they had left in March. Eerily quiet with no other students present and everything closed, one very important thing stood out. Sara said: ‘We felt very safe with all the risk assessments and protocols that we had to follow. We did a symptom check before arriving, all at separate times, temperatures were checked on arrival and there were donning and doffing stations for PPE. ‘The way it was put together for us, none of us felt vulnerable, and this was at the point when people were very afraid of Covid. It was very well thought out. I think we were all just glad to be there and be given the opportunity to move forward.’ She continued: ‘It was good to be told in a university environment, seeing what is expected, this is now the standard. So when going into a professional club, I knew I would need to be in full PPE all of the time. It was a learning experience for us, for what we needed to be doing with our players. It was really learning what is the new normal.‘ The sports trauma training has clearly stood Sara in good stead as she completed her Level 5 Advanced Trauma Medical Management in Football (ATMMIF) run by the Football Association and she passed with flying colours. She said: ‘It came back like I had done it yesterday. It was ingrained in us so deeply.’ The cohort of tutors on the ATMMIF course which included Paramedics, Doctors and experienced Physiotherapists  working in football, were so impressed with Sara’s underlying knowledge of trauma management and her methodical assessment approach and algorithms, that the Course leader said they would consider her for Level 4 Faculty. A serious compliment to her studying as well as the teaching she experienced. Sara acknowledges that in certain ways she has been very fortunate in gaining her current role but it isn’t luck that has gifted it to her. Serious hard work, gritty determination and a willingness to consistently step outside of her comfort zone have all played a key part. Sara joined UWTSD following a successful eight year career in the insurance industry. Before she embarked on a lifechanging move, she tested the water volunteering at an NHS hospital as a Physiotherapist’s Assistant but quickly realised that her destiny was to work with athletes. Sara is refreshingly honest about her abilities when she started at UWTSD.  She said: ‘I was clueless and petrified going in but took on as much as I could. I absorbed everything Kate (Williams her tutor) taught us and threw myself into as many situations that made me uncomfortable, as I could.’ Once pitch side first aid had been taught in Sara’s first week and the group were given the green light to go out and get some experience with a team, it was the just the incentive Sara needed. Football provided Sara with some great early opportunities. Her road in had been to ask third year student Kerry Nicholas could she shadow him. It was a great way to introduce herself and provided a pathway to securing a number of roles in Welsh League football at Briton Ferry, Llansawel and Llanelli, together with a fortuitous introduction to Ritson Lloyd, first team physiotherapist to Swansea AFC   Sara said : ‘One of the players from Llanelli rang me to say the physio  at Swansea City was looking for therapists to cover pitch side for Swansea University  BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sports ) football team . I made the call.  He asked me why did I want to do the job. I was quite blunt and said to be honest I want a placement at Swansea City next year. I ‘ve been given an opportunity to work with you first hand and I feel like that it’s an opportunity not to be passed. And he laughed. I think he was quite taken aback by how blunt I was. And said let’s see how it goes’. Sara covered pitch side on a Wednesday afternoon for BUCS. It so happened that the BUCS team and Swansea City shared the same ground, Swansea City as a training facility and BUCS for matches. It also meant that Ritson Lloyd was close at hand to chat to Sara with helpful tips and insights into things he had learned over the years. True to her word Sara got back in touch with Swansea City in her third year and, following her success with BUCS football, Ritson was able to offer her a 2 day a week placement with the U23s. At same time Sara discovered Swansea City Academy was looking for casual staff for the 9-14s  on match days. She seized the opportunity, gaining the chance to experience travelling with the teams on a Sunday. Covid-19 brought a premature end to her work at the club but like the dedicated person she is, Sara wrote to all who helped her on her journey thanking them, as she had learned so much and asking them to let her know if they needed help with anything. The call came in September with a vacancy at Swansea City Academy. Sara is working with the Academy U9s – U16s but she is also gaining experience with the U18s – 23s under the watchful guidance of Bethany Chaddock, Head of Academy Medical. Sara said: I worked with Bethany on my placement; she has been brilliant and given me incredible support. If I have a question, she is there ready to help. Asking for help and not being afraid has also been a big learning point. ‘I have felt overwhelmed at times which I think is natural going into any new role, let alone one which is in such a high-pressure environment, but I have never felt out of my depth nor ever felt I couldn’t turn to someone for help.’ Sara’s role is broad and varied from pitch side management on training and match days, to Injury assessment and diagnosis, to designing rehab frameworks, programming and carrying out pitch based and gym based rehabilitation, to working with Strength and Conditioning and other members of the medical and MDT, to attending surgery consultations and reviews and so much more. And at the end of it all, she naturally still has to document everything. It’s a busy role but one which she is loving. Sara managed to add another string to her bow while in her final year at university linking up with the Wales Futsal team for a second placement opportunity. Once again the work she had done in her early university years while working as a massage therapist at Swansea Physiotherapy Ltd with  Physiotherapist Chris Miller, opened the door to the world of Futsal. Reward for her hard work came with a one week trip to Macedonia and the UEFA European Championship qualifiers. Team doctor Matt Giles, Physiotherapist Chris Miller and Sara made up the medical team and they worked a triage system with Chris and Sara sharing the therapy tasks. While the team didn’t progress to the final stages, there was a silver lining. Never to waste an opportunity Sara explained: ‘I was able to work on my final year research project, looking at the impact of kinesiology tape on subjective and dynamic ankle stability. I was able to use the team to help with my research and my data collection.’ Sara is very clear in what has helped her reach  her current position and had some real pearls of wisdom to pass on to current Sports Therapy students. She said: ‘I’ve got to where I am now and I have had the experiences I have had, by putting myself out there, by asking to shadow people, by not being afraid to ask. If someone approaches you and offers you a free placement, take it. You don’t know who you will meet on that placement and what that placement will open up for you. ‘It is your work ethic which really shines in this industry. Everyone comes out of university with the same degree. What people look for is what people have done outside of what was required of them as part of their degree.’ Sara is truly grateful for the support she has received from so many people, not least Sports Therapists and lecturers, Charley Keen and Kate Williams ‘Kate is brilliant, She has so much knowledge – the way she taught us prepared us for the real world. She makes you think, she challenges you. ‘Charley too, her teaching style was similar to Kate’s and she challenged us and supported us to be the best therapists we could be. ‘Kate once said, ‘If you hear hooves coming down a corridor what makes you think it’s a horse?’ We looked at her and she said, ‘How do you know it’s not a zebra?’. When treating people, you need to have your differential diagnosis in mind, you might think it’s a horse but don’t forget about your zebras, always think what it could be! ‘When students come into the Academy, I find myself saying certain things that Kate and Charley taught me. Actually, they now make sense to me and I know what I am talking about.’ Sara finished a fascinating conversation with a thank you to her University cohort. She said: ‘They were such a big support academically and emotionally – we carried each other through the 3 years. We all came out with First Class Honours degrees and we all owe that as a credit  to each other, as we helped each other along the way. They were brilliant and people who I will always hold in the highest regard.’ It’s no surprise to know that all past students on the Sports Therapy degree course are part of a WhatsApp group keeping in touch and Sara and her cohort also have a WhatsApp group keeping in touch with each other and helping current students, particularly with …….their sports trauma module!

While lockdown has created many different issues for our Members, it has also provided a great opportunity to catch up on some quality CPD, and the Society’s first webinar in its 2021 series was no exception. Just under 1,000 people signed up to listen to ‘The Role of Strength and Conditioning in Rehabilitation/Sports Therapy’ and judging by the feedback they were not disappointed. The programme was put together and superbly hosted by Jen Wilson, Programme Leader and Lecturer on the BSc (Hons) Sport Therapy and Rehabilitation course at the University of Derby, while the hugely knowledgeable panel came from a variety of sporting backgrounds, which provided a great blend of knowledge and practical experience. Jen explained why the panel was selected and how their strengths complemented each other: ‘Rob Walsh, Physical Performance Lead, Netherlands Snowsport is an experienced practitioner. His work spans both rehabilitation and strength and conditioning, for which he is accredited in both areas. Therefore, his knowledge is invaluable. Further to his applied experience, Rob is a former Senior Lecturer, so he has an appreciation for the research that underpins applied practice. ‘Similar to Rob, Josh Davidson, Lead Physical Performance Coach, Derby County Community Trust and Luke Jenkinson, Head of Performance, Derby County FC both practise and teach in the field of Strength and Conditioning. Their experiences working with age groups and senior athletes, allow for great insight into working with, and developing athletes across the age ranges. ‘John Kiely, who lectures at the Institute for Coaching and Performance (ICaP) at UCLaN has significant experience across multiple sports as a Strength and Conditioning practitioner and could discuss the strategies he would employ, when working with different individuals, and how practice is really contextual to the individual. Finally, our fifth panelist was Damien Harper, a lead researcher in deceleration, and the risk it poses to athletes. His understanding of the loads an athlete would experience in sport was really fundamental to the discussion.’ The evening proved a positive learning experience for Members and Student Members alike. Society Chairman Professor Graham N. Smith said: ‘Strength and Conditioning are integral parts to all rehabilitation programmes and having an understanding of this is important.  As patients progress through their rehab journey, they are going to need strengthening in its broadest context, along with being conditioned for whatever role they hope to return to. That may even include working with Strength and Conditioning Coaches to prepare them to the levels that they can perform. That is why a webinar such as the one the SST ran this month was so important. ‘I would like to thank all of those concerned for not only planning it but pulling it together so professionally on the night’. Hayley Clarke, Chair of the Society’s Communications Group who managed the event on the night with great skill and calmness, was delighted with how the evening had gone. She said: ‘The level of support shown by Society Members and Student Members for our first webinar of the 2021 series was incredible. Thank you to everyone who joined us and participated in the Q&A, which made the event such a success. The Communications Group is working hard to plan more webinars throughout 2021, focusing on a variety of different specialist areas to support the professional development of our membership. We would welcome suggestions on topics for future webinars so please get in touch via comms @thesst.org. We look forward to welcoming you at our next webinar.’ If you missed the webinar you can view it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AySWXyddqgo&t=562s 

After 5 years in post, Ed Pratt has stepped down as Chair of the Communications Group to focus on his role as Lecturer in Sports Therapy at Leeds Trinity University and his clinic. Ed has been involved with the group since its inception in 2012 and three years later took over as Chair from Kristian Weaver. Professor Graham Smith, Chair of the SST said: ‘I would personally like to thank Ed for his contribution to the Society during his time on the Communications Group and as Chair. He is a great supporter of the Society and we know this is just the beginning of another chapter in his very successful career.’ As a result of Ed stepping down, Hayley Clarke has taken on the role of Chair of the group. Hayley graduated from the University of Worcester in 2012 and after a break from studying has ventured back to do a Masters, this time at the University of Wolverhampton. Hayley is a first team therapist at Walsall RFC. She is well equipped to lead the team with a career in event management and vast experience in the planning and execution of educational events and courses. Tom Pinder, who was previously Secretary of the group, has taken on the role of Vice Chair. Tom, a Graduate from Leeds Beckett University is now an Associate Lecturer there and also works at Kinetic Clinics in Yorkshire. Tom has taken the baton from Nick Mulryan and our thanks go to Nick, who remains in the group, for his continued support and loyalty. This brings us to the group’s latest recruit, University of Derby Senior Lecturer and Course Leader, Jen Wilson. Jen has already made an impact being the inspiration behind the Advent Exercise Calendar which features her on several of the exercises. Despite having a very busy schedule, Jen has taken on the role of Secretary of the Group.   Ashley Jones continues in his role as Director with responsibility for communications.  

Each year at the Board Meeting following the AGM of The Society of Sports Therapists, the current Chair and Vice Chair stand down from their roles, offering themselves for re-election should they so wish. Any new nominations are then taken and a formal election takes place. This year, Professor Graham Smith offered himself for re-election for the post of Chair and he was duly re-elected unanimously. However, after 18 years as Vice Chair, Keith Waldon chose to step down and Kevin Campbell-Karn was voted in to take over the role. Keith remains on the Board as a Director. Professor Smith paid tribute to the outstanding work Keith has undertaken during his time in the post:   ‘Keith is integral to the work of the Society and has played a vital role, particularly in developing relationships with our new universities. His knowledge, expertise and diplomacy skills have been so important in establishing a rapport with key university personnel and the fact that Universities are still looking to join the Society family is a real credit to him. Keith has also taken on many other roles on behalf of the Society which have been greatly appreciated, as has his support for me as Chairman. ‘We are delighted that Keith remains as a Director and welcome Kevin Campbell-Karn into the position of Vice Chair. Kevin is Sports Therapy Course Leader and Senior Lecturer at Bucks New University and has been a Board Member since 2017. We look forward to Kevin bringing new impetus to the role and the ongoing development of the Society.’

The Society was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Dr Brian Bointon after a short illness. While Dr Bointon was never a Member of The Society of Sports Therapists, he has probably been one of the most influential individuals in the Society’s academic and professional development and status. In 1995 as the Head of Health and Human Sciences at the University of North London (now London Metropolitan University) he agreed to and supported the development of the first ever Sports Therapy degree programme to be accredited by The Society of Sports Therapists. The decision to do this was not only brave but extremely foresightful, especially as there was no such programme at that time. Along with support from other colleagues at the University, including Dr Mike Roberts and Dr Chris Woodward, he allowed Society Officers the opportunity to put together an academic programme that was desperately needed, not only for the Society but for the profession of Sports Therapy. So, from the validation of that first degree and its inception in 1996, the Society now collaborates with 30 higher education institutions and accredits 38 academic Sports Therapy programmes. Would that have happened had Dr Bointon not agreed to the first programme, we doubt it. Whatever, The Society of Sports Therapists will always be grateful to him. The Society sends condolences and best wishes to Dr Bointon’s family. He will always be missed and remembered with great affection and gratitude.

Matt Piper is a Society Member who certainly has made the most of his time during this extraordinary year. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David Sports Therapy Graduate has spent the last few months on tour with Team INEOS, one of the world’s leading Cycling teams. But this enterprising young man is no stranger to working in elite sport. Matt graduated in 2017 as part of the first Sports Therapy cohort to make the grade from UWTSD. Clearly not one to let a good opportunity pass him by, Matt established his early credentials in top level rugby, which no doubt stood him in good stead to apply for his great summer opportunity. Matt gained an internship at leading professional Welsh rugby side Cardiff Blues straight after leaving university. He said: ‘I was fortunate enough to undertake some of my final year clinical practice at the Newport Gwent Dragons rugby club, where my lecturer Kate Williams was working at the time. That gave me a massive push to want to work in professional rugby. I saw the internship at the Blues advertised on Twitter and I applied for it. I was fortunate enough to get it. ‘My role in my first year was as an intern Sports Therapist. In the second season I was employed as the Sports Therapist, which involved supporting the Physiotherapists when needed and also organising soft tissue support from colleges and universities.’ While undertaking his internship at the Blues, Matt also worked at Beddau RFC. It proved a positive experience for him where he felt ‘he learned a lot about himself.’ It also proved a magical season for the club with Matt experiencing the thrill of being involved in a European Challenge Cup final, which finally saw Cardiff Blues become  European Champions. Matt said : ‘With the internship occurring in my first year out of university, it was mind blowing. All the hard work throughout the year paid off from all the players and staff. The final and day itself was a blur as we were losing at half time and then coming back to win showed the mentality of the squad that season.’ Matt is now Sports Therapist at Pontypridd. He said: ‘My role involves the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the players (and coaching staff at times). Organising behind the scenes is massive whether it is ordering tape, admin work or speaking to players outside of training hours about rehab programs. Communication is big with coaches regarding player availability or consultants regarding injuries that need further care. ‘Pontypridd is a massive club to me for personal reasons. I used to play for the mini and junior sections, so to be involved in the first team is an honour.’ As we all know, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused massive disruption to sport. Pontypridd was no exception suffering with national and local lockdowns hitting training and matches. But the situation ultimately offered Matt a new opportunity. He explains: ‘The head physio at the Blues saw an email from the INEOS physio asking for soft tissue therapists and forwarded it to me. After an interview INEOS first offered me a full time position but at that point rugby and my private clinic was going well so I turned the position down. But then rugby stopped and the clinic closed in March so I asked if there were any freelance roles available. I was offered 50 days first of all but by the end I was on the road for 80/90 days come the end of the Giro D’Italia.’ Matt held many roles throughout his time on tour and he takes up the story: ‘My first job with INEOS was as a soigneur and it was at an altitude camp in the Alps for 2 weeks. Our hotel was at 2000 metres, so after the first few days I could really feel the effects. ‘The role of a Soigneur is to treat and massage riders during training camps and races, along with getting cars prepped, bottles and coolboxes ready, food for staff in cars and nutrition for riders in the feed zones. ‘Normally there are 3 or 4 Soigneurs on a race and the grand tours have 6/7 as moving hotels is also a role for the soigneurs to carry out. There’s a doctor and physio on each race along with the 3 to 4 soigneurs. With the cyclists spending so much time on the bike in a fixed position, niggles are picked up. The major injuries usually occur during crashes. ‘Vuelta a Burgos Spain was the first race back on the pro tour. This was a 5 day race around the Burgos region in Northern Spain and my role that week was in the hotel making sure Covid protocols were taking place and getting nutrition ready  for the next day before the riders came back for treatment and massage. We won the last stage and I think we came 2nd on general classification’. ‘Coppi  Bartali was a 5 stage race just around the area north of Rimini. On this race I was on the road each day at the feed zones where the riders grab the musette (Bags). This can be pretty dangerous as they’re riding at 30kph+. We won the general classification on this race’ The famous Giro D’Italia, a 3 week race around Italy followed, starting in Sicily and finishing with the time trial in Milan. Italians are passionate about cycling but they too felt the outward effects of Covid-19. Matt said: ‘Within the controlled areas of the race including the podium, the public wasn’t allowed; it was only people who had been tested throughout the Giro. Overall I had 13 tests throughout the race.’ Matt’s role changed for the last stage of the tour, as in reality he hadn’t expected to be there but happy to embrace every opportunity, he enjoyed one of the great highs in professional sport. ‘My role in the Giro was as a kitchen assistant as it was last minute. So unfortunately no treatments but I was on the road doing extra feeds so saw a lot of Italy and places I would never have visited. Days were regularly 7am, sometimes earlier until 11pm.’ As many cycling fans will know, 2018 Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas was a hot favourite for the race but he suffered a serious crash and fractured his hip. Matt said: ‘The main plan was Geraint as the leading rider but plans don’t always go to plan and the remaining riders certainly made up for that disappointment of the crash with 7 stage wins through the whole Giro.’ The event had one final twist which saw Team INEOS rider Tao Geoghegan Hart, a name not hugely familiar to sports fans in the UK, pull off what had seemed impossible and Matt was there to witness what unfolded. ‘The chef and I finished up in the hotel then went to the finish line as it all came down to the final 15.1km Milan time trial. It was incredible. All the staff then ran 1.5km from the team bus to the podium to celebrate the victory that had just happened. When everyone got back to the hotel we all celebrated with dinner and drinks as a team, with a few speeches thrown in. ’ Born out of tenacity and adversity, fantastic memories to last a lifetime!

Society Member Matt Williams and his colleagues at Training Shed have not let their innovative talents rest during the pandemic, accelerating the development of a project called the Wellbeing Score; an easy to follow, free 20 point questionnaire, designed to assess an individual’s fundamental health & wellbeing ability. Matt is Lead Therapist at Training Shed; a fully integrated training facility that incorporates Strength & Conditioning Coaches, Nutritionists and Sports Therapists. Like many businesses Training Shed has not escaped the effects of the pandemic, scaling down from four clinics to two, but it has allowed the team to look at ways of developing the company and their innovative Wellbeing Score. Matt, a Masters by Research Graduate from Coventry University, explains: ‘We started looking at the corporate market and initial ways of assessing the health and wellbeing of employees. The Wellbeing Score questionnaire is split into three sections; Health, Nutrition & Movement. Our Health section is based on NHS guidelines and well known “doctors’ advice”. The Nutrition section looks at the basics of nutrition i.e. how many meals do you eat, how much caffeine/alcohol do you consume etc. Finally the Movement section asks for execution of simple movement patterns such as being able to stand up out of a chair unaided.’ Anyone completing the Wellbeing Score receives a free 50 page document detailing the importance of each of the 20 questions with tips & advice on how to make a positive change. While the team was initially going into companies and working face to face, they are now working online. The scores are entirely subjective, but a key goal is to start a conversation about a person’s health and wellbeing and look at ways they can lead a healthier lifestyle. The project has also developed in a fascinating direction. Matt said: ‘One of our aims is to collect data from our Wellbeing Score to publish in a National Survey. Currently less than 3% of people are passing the Wellbeing Score i.e. 20/20, & average score is 15/20 to the poorest – 2/20. The team has received a lot of interest from an array of different areas including a leading hospital looking at how the Wellbeing Score could be introduced for liver transplant and liver cancer patients and another looking at using it in pre-op and post-op care for hip replacement patients. A further study is looking at how the Wellbeing Score can improve overall wellbeing and a potential cost saving to the hospital that could run into millions, as a result of very simple interventions. At a time when the Covid-19 pandemic is emphasising the need to look after one’s own health and wellbeing, this is a great first step. What’s Next? While the team has had considerable interest shown in the project and is currently talking to a number of organisations and the Government, it is now looking for over 2000+ people to complete the questionnaire in order to be able to publish as a valid online survey and also share the relevant anonymised data. Can You Help? Members of the Society can help by completing the questionnaire. You will find the Wellbeing Score questionnaire at https://www.trainingshed.com/wellbeing-score/  Take the test and see how you do. If you run a clinic you may want to introduce it to your staff and your patients or if you run a community team you might run it with players and staff. If you would like to set up a dashboard for your organisation for looking at group anonymised data – email Matt@trainingshed.com. This is a great chance to support a fellow Member in what has the potential to raise the health and wellbeing status of many individuals across the UK at a time when it has never been so important.

[vc_section el_id=”inner-main-section” css=”.vc_custom_1522655561122{margin-top: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_row gap=”30″ equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”top”][vc_column el_id=”side_bar”][vc_single_image image=”7507″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1599467728186{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]It is hard to believe that English Scientist Tim Berners-Lee was busy inventing the World Wide Web just one year before The Society of Sports Therapists was formed.  As he was writing his first web browser in 1990, so a small, dedicated group of therapists which included the current Chair and Vice Chair, Professor Graham N. Smith and Keith Waldon respectively, were busy mapping out a pathway for this exciting, new membership organisation. Thirty years on who would have imagined that it would develop into such a knowledgeable and respected organisation. It started with a Diploma Course and now the Society collaborates with 30 universities and colleges and accredits 38 programmes at Undergraduate and Masters Level. We wanted to get an insight into what it was like back in the early days of the organisation and just what was the attraction of this new organisation; The Society of Sports Therapists. A number of these original Members together with  Geoffrey Summers, the Society’s first Company Secretary (and very much part of the Society’s  early developments,) kindly agreed to chat to 3 members of the Communications group ; Tom Pinder, Hayley Clarke and Ed Pratt via video.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”7556″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text] Gerry Docherty – Dundee Football Club – Dual qualified Sports Therapist/ Physiotherapist David Jones, the first winner of The Society of Sports Therapists Travelling Scholarship and now a Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire Malcolm Stuart – Former therapist to Brighton Hove Albion FC, dual qualified and running his own private clinic Terry Warren – Coming Soon Geoffrey Summers, the first Company Secretary of the Society [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Watch Members’ Interviews” color=”green” size=”lg” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLO7i-SGcHny2C8yuB1Y24LoiuIv62TmgH||target:%20_blank|”][vc_column_text] ‘If you had your time over would you do it again?’ Society Chair Professor Graham N. Smith and Vice Chair Keith Waldon look back on highlights of the last 30 years and ask that inevitable question. If you had your time over would you do it again? You can find out the answer here: [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] What Does The Society of Sports Therapists Mean To Me? Members have created short videos to tell us and to celebrate 30 years of the Society. Thank you to all who have contributed. [/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Watch Videos” color=”green” size=”lg” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fplaylist%3Flist%3DPLO7i-SGcHny353HcBTNBtlfTeG6yAS-lz||target:%20_blank|”][vc_btn title=”A Few More Thoughts From Society Members and Friends” color=”green” size=”lg” align=”left” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fthesst.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F09%2FWhat-does-the-Society-of-Sports-Therapists-mean-to-you-1.pdf||target:%20_blank|”][vc_column_text] Some Highlights Across 30 years – A Society of Sports Therapists Timeline This Society of Sports Therapists’ timeline reflects some significant moments and memories in its 30 year journey. Inevitably it is only a snapshot but we do hope that it will give  all Members a  glimpse into the history of the Society and will provide an opportunity to recall some of the highlights. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This Society of Sports Therapists’ timeline reflects some significant moments and memories in its 30 year journey. Inevitably it is only a snapshot but we do hope that it will give  all Members a  glimpse into the history of the Society and will provide an opportunity to recall some of the highlights. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It was always going to be a different style AGM & Seminar this year thanks to a Director election and Covid-19 restrictions. As it turned  out, it was a super evening, masks and all Members had travelled from throughout the UK, undertaking long journeys and making huge efforts to be present for this important annual event. The meeting was held at the London Heathrow Marriott hotel, the scene of so many previous Society AGMs.  While the buzz of a normally very busy hotel was missing, the staff had made great efforts to accommodate the Society and to ensure that the meeting was Covid- secure. Members  were required to wear masks throughout the evening and that included the Speakers who coped brilliantly with the situation. The Society Chairman, Professor Graham Smith kicked off proceedings introducing Leslie Smith, a University of Hertfordshire Graduate, who won the Student Travelling Scholarship to St Clair College, Windsor and then Megan Parker who travelled to York University in Toronto. Both produced excellent presentations and did themselves, their universities and the Society proud. The third presenter was excused wearing a mask. Ka Wing Mak, a Graduate of the Technical and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong was the winner of the 2019 Bruce Hobbs Travelling Scholarship to Duke University, North Carolina, USA. He had sent a fascinating video recounting his journey. MK as he likes to be known, was the first overseas winner of the award and his gratitude and humility was something very special. Since the three travelling scholarship winners had returned home from their respective visits the Chairman had caught up with each of their hosts and he had received glowing feedback on all three award winners. Professor Smith said: Although the Society has had links with Canada for many years, both Megan and Leslie had totally different experiences to those Graduates who had gone before, so listening to their presentations was interesting and gave Members attending the seminar a completely different perspective to what they may have heard before. The same can be said for MK too as for both himself and our colleagues at Duke, there were cultural as well as clinical perspectives that had never been raised or discussed before. I know that all three had tremendous experiences and the discussions that I had with all who had interacted with them made me feel very proud. During the evening, the 2020 Society AGM was also held. After receiving the report from the Directors, presented by the Chairman, and then the Annual Accounts, it was necessary to hold an election to fill the 2 Director vacancies.  It being that each year 2 Directors must stand down by rotation although they can offer themselves for re-election should they so wish. This year saw Jenny Jones step down as a Director after 7 years in the role and Kevin Campbell-Karn was also due to retire by rotation but chose to re-stand for election.  Members of the Society had previously been advised that there were two Director roles available and three Society Members had been nominated – Kevin Campbell-Karn, Tom Cresswell and Lisa Edwards. All 3 candidates were required to give a short speech saying why they wished to take on the role of Director and a vote by Members attending the AGM was then taken. The votes were counted and Kevin Campbell-Karn and Tom Cresswell duly elected to the Board of Directors. Congratulations to them both and special thanks to Lisa for standing and for making the journey from Wales where she has been doing some great work there, raising the profile of Society Members, especially within the Welsh Assembly. On a final note our sincere thanks to all Members who attended and to the staff at the London Heathrow Marriott Hotel for their support and making the event possible.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]