Injury latest
"The invalids, under the careful attention of Dr Jessup and Miles, the trainer, are all making good progress."
This is how Aston Villa's injury situation, in the approach to their 1920 FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea, was reported.
Aye - a doctor and a trainer.
How did top-flight players in those days manage to cope without physios, assistant physios, second assistant physios, several other physios, sports science advisors, masseurs, psychologists, performance analysts, surgeons, nutritionists, kinanthropometrists and grape-peelers?
2 Comments
Profile
Brian Halford - Brian Halford’s look at Edgbaston.
I recall that, sometime in the mid-60's, Blues played a friendly against the Hungarian team Ferencvaros. During the match one of the Hungarian team required treatment. The trainer wandered on to the pitch wearing an overcoat and trilby hat, and carrying the 'magic sponge' in a suitcase !
The incident inspired the weekly cartoon in the following Saturday's 'Sports Argus'. Those were the days.....
Ah, Sorrento, the Argus...bless it.
One of the most effective pieces of work by a trainer in Lincoln City's history did not actually involve an injured player. Not long after Graham Taylor was appointed manager (the youngest ever in the Football League) he'd gone about 12 games still without a win and the crowd were getting on his back so much he was very close to quitting. During one match a bloke was handing out vile abuse when physio Bert Loxley went over to him and advised the gentlemen that if he handed out any more grief he would find the physio's bag stuffed down his throat.
Graham later pinpointed that moment as one which convinced him he had enough people on his side to see it through. Two years later the Imps won a glorious promotion. And for Graham the rest is history.