Keeping footballers in peak physical condition is all in a day's work for physiotherapist, Richard Evans, who says his job is the next best thing to playing football for a living.
Richard Evans is now Head of Sports Medicine at Wigan Athletic. The interview was carried out while he was head physiotherapist for Swansea City Football Club.
Name: Richard Evans
Job title: Head physiotherapist for Swansea City Football Club
Your job:
I've covered a multitude of jobs in the 10 years I've been here, but my main role is the head physiotherapist. I look after the health and the other physical performance of every player at the club.
Why this job?
Health and fitness has been a bit of a passion of mine. I pursued a career in football after leaving school. When I got to the age of 27 and had played professional and semi-professional football I realised that football wasn't going to provide me with a living after I'd finished my days really.
So whilst I was playing at Lilleshall I did a treatment and management of injuries course held by the FA, and that's what instilled an interest in physiotherapy.
Skills required?
First of all make sure you do the right courses. You've got to do human biology and biology A-Levels to get on to the university course; they're the main pre-requisites of being a physiotherapist.
You're met with different tasks every day. My role has changed and I now look more at the performance of players on a Saturday afternoon and match that with the intensities in training.
Highlights?
Seeing us win on a Saturday afternoon! And to see the players return from injury after long spells. I suppose one of the best parts of the job is to see players, like Owain Tudur Jones and Gary Monk, who had serious injuries, go out and carry on playing to the intensities that they do every week. It is a very fulfilling job when you do see that.
Other than playing football, it is definitely my dream job. Every day is different and I really enjoy all aspects of my work.
Lowlights?
We do a lot of hours, but there are no low points. I really enjoy my job.
Advice to young people?
To get into football I know is very difficult, there are a lot of junior physiotherapists out there now and they are within the NHS as the jobs are few and far between. I think if you have a previous background in football that does help.
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