Romsey's most experienced Sports Physio

Seeing a 21 year old Tiger Woods winning the Masters in 1997, watching England Men's Football team get knocked out of the World Cup in 1998, jumping up and down cheering on Denise Lewis to Gold at Sydney 2000. These are some of the earliest sporting memories I have, watching them with my family in awe of these men and women. I was hooked and from those early moments completely obsessed with sport. I wanted to watch it, to play it, to be involved in it. As I got older that passion never disappeared and I realised that I wanted a career that centred around sport in some form.

Around 16 the idea became more serious when I pleaded with my Aunt, a successful NHS and private physiotherapist in Surrey, to try and get me some work experience. She was more than happy to promote her profession and I had a few days shadowing all aspects of Physiotherapy at Frimley Park Hospital. That confirmed to me this was what I wanted to do for work. I was accepted to study at The University of the West of England in Bristol.

At University I learned and experienced working in all the environments that as Physiotherapists we apply our skills - orthopaedic, neurological, respiratory, intensive care, community, paediatrics. I was however still focused on progressing in sports physiotherapy. I was told many times, by experienced Physiotherapists, that getting into sport would be difficult and many young physio's want to do it but opportunities are very difficult to come by.

I graduated and set to work to try and find the role I wanted. I applied anywhere I could and sent emails to every sports team I could think of, to see if they could offer me anything. Finally I had a reply, AFC Bournemouth were willing to take me on as an intern. I wouldn't be paid but I would be full time and involved in every aspect of physiotherapy at the club. I now had a dilemma as I had been also offered a paid NHS role. But I knew I had to grasp the chance, I accepted the internship and started almost immediately getting ready for the season ahead. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made and without doubt led to the career I have developed.

I was now involved in full time professional sport, I learnt how athletes trained, what was required of Physiotherapists at this level and had more contact time to treat 'patients' than I had ever experienced. From the under 9's academy team to the 1st Team competing in League One I was able to help and critically learn as much as I possibly could. I remember one day being asked to do some warm up work with David James, then the 1st Team goalkeeper and an ex number 1 for England Men. I had watched him playing so many times growing up, I was absolutely petrified of doing something wrong or being found to have no idea of what I was doing but hopefully that didn't show! A few weeks into my internship the management changed, ex player and previous manager Eddie Howe returned for a second spell in charge.

The team's performance sky rocketed and soon I was asked to be with the 1st Team as much as possible as there was a push for promotion. The team achieved it on the last home game of the season. Wild celebrations and great way to end my first year in sport. The club offered me a paid role helping with the reserve team for the next season. But I had eyes on what was the best progression for me personally. I applied and was offered Head of Academy Medicine at Notts County FC.

On the pitch for promotion after beating Carlisle United 3-1.

I was to work daily with the full time scholars 16-18 as well as overseeing the physiotherapy for all the academy players 9-16 who trained twice a week and played at the weekend. Crucially I was finally getting paid! I applied everything my internship had taught me and helped build on the existing academy physiotherapy set up. We underwent an audit for the newly created elite player performance plan where I had to demonstrate how we were offering the best physiotherapy care to these young players and was pleased to achieve the category 3 status we were looking for. Working in sport affords you some surreal moments and at times I shared an office with Steve Hodge, ex England Men's player and owner of Maradona's shirt from the infamous Hand of God game! It was always an honour to hear some of his stories and anecdotes from his time playing.

Again as a lower league club any help for the first team was appreciated and home matchdays I would help the senior team where I could. One particular day I was asked to help with some post match soft tissue work for a young first team player that was on loan from Aston Villa. The manager was most displeased with his shin pad choice but agreed if he did the business on the pitch he could wear, within the rules, whatever he liked! The player in question? A 17 year old Jack Grealish, I still think his calf muscles might be the most impressive I have worked on to date!

Treating a youth team scholar at Notts County.

The club just avoided relegation (with a large contribution from Jack) but over the summer some changes were happening and the future was uncertain for a number of players and staff. A few months previously I had contact from a physio that had asked if I wanted to work with amateur sports enthusiasts at an active holiday resort in Greece. The offer was still there and rather than wait to see what the club restructure was going to be I decided to embark on this next step.

For me this was new in so many ways: a different country, multiple sports, clients only with you for a short window while on their active holiday, however the biggest adjustment was asking directly for payment. I had never had to do that as a team physiotherapist. But I thoroughly enjoyed the role, I am sure the sun helped, but running on my own diary helping a huge variety of injuries and returning clients back to tennis, sailing, mountain biking when they thought the holiday might be ruined was very rewarding. Halfway through the summer I was asked to go to Gothenburg (Sweden) as physio to a group of young football players who were representing the UK at the Gothia Cup a Youth Football World Cup. This was my first experience of tournament physiotherapy and an enjoyable one with completely different challenges to the environments I had worked before. Rather predictably the team I was working with got knocked out by a German team in the quarter finals on penalties!

Gothia Cup opening ceremony football teams from 75 nations taking part.

As the summer continued I knew I had to return to work in the UK and through an ex contact at AFC Bournemouth I was offered private physiotherapy work back at home. I will always be grateful for that summers work especially due to it being where I met my now wife who was also working on the resort!

I jumped into the private work back in the UK and enjoyed the rich variety of patients and injuries that presented to me. From young talented athletes to older patients who desperately wanted to keep their independence. I quickly realised that what I deemed as normal methods of treatment from my time in sport, were far superior to what nearly all of these private patients had been offered previously. It seemed grossly unfair that the top sports performers in country had such rich access to progressive Physiotherapy but the general population (even those paying their own way) were offered something very different. That became a sort of mantra for myself and one that very much is at the heart of Vida Physio. To offer the same elite physiotherapy that top athletes receive to all ages and fitness levels. The private clinic began to grow and progress rapidly. I loved working privately but I also wanted to continue with some role in sport and so when the opportunity to work with Wales Men's Hockey on a part time basis presented itself I leapt at it!

Treating a Welsh hockey athlete during a tournament game in Belfast.

Without a doubt my time with Wales was the most enjoyable Physiotherapy role that I have held. A truly great group of athletes and staff that I cherish so many memories from. Over 7 years I had chance to travel around the world with the team including challenging environments such as a humid Malaysia or a poor medical infrastructure in Poland. Managing players injuries from a distance when we weren't together was a new problem but one that set me up well for when the world changed with COVID-19! One thing I don't miss however is returning late on a Sunday night from a trip abroad and then straight back into my private practice role early Monday! During this period of time the team achieved hugely on the pitch, qualifying for multiple major tournaments and rising to all time highest position in the world rankings.

My time with Wales was fittingly capped off with working as a Physiotherapist at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Experiencing a multi sports games and having all the medical services you could want at our disposal was both professionally and personally a career highlight. However after the closing ceremony in the Alexander Stadium the time was right to step back, particularly due to the imminent arrival of our little girl.

Team Wales Mens Hockey at the opening ceremony of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

That brings us to the present day and Vida Physio! Due to my young family and living in Romsey I feel the time is right to share my knowledge and experience here. I am excited to show the active population of Romsey how progressive and innovative physiotherapy can be. Demonstrating how having the title Romsey's most experienced sports physio is not just an achievement to write about but these are experiences that have shaped how I approach my treatments. Continuing on the promise I made 10 years ago entering private practice - to ensure everyone has access to the same high level of physiotherapy that elite athletes receive. I also recognise that healthcare in our country is probably due to undergo its most significant changes in the next few years. Health and wellness is of ever increasing importance and working patterns along with companies are supporting this trend.

I am still involved in performance sport with consultancy roles working with athletes or teams on a short term or tournament basis. I feel this helps me continue to grow and as medicine is ever adapting allows me to keep with the current advances. I can then continue to take those developments into my private practice work for the benefit of all my patients. Also that feeling of being on the touchline for an important match with a crowd behind you is most certainly addictive!

I can't wait to get started in Romsey and hope sharing my career journey shows you the passion I have for active lifestyles, physiotherapy and people. I love working with anyone that is motivated whether that be to return to international sport or to be fit and healthy to benefit themselves. Without a doubt the best aspect of Physiotherapy in the private sector is the people you meet, the conversations you have and the lifestyles you help to improve.

Tom.