Univ football teams backed by professor
Three year deal from man who wanted to buy the Binos
The man who once hoped to take over Stirling Albion is now putting his finance into Stirling University’s football teams.
Leading sports surgeon Professor Gordon Mackay has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the university’s men’s and women’s squads.
Back in December 2009, the professor launched a bid for the Binos which he hoped would see the development of a unique sports medicine facility as part of Stirling Sports Village at Forthbank, operating alongside continuing day-today football activities.
After three months, however, he stepped aside from negotiations with then owner/chairman Peter McKenzie, citing Mr McKenzie’s long running rents battle with Stirling Council at the time as the main reason.
Professor Mackay was on the books at Rangers as a youngster and and says he is keen to see the university’s football programme fulfil its potential.
He added: “I’ve worked very closely with the university over the years and have always been impressed with their ability to combine high performance sport with education.
“Having taken time out of my studies as a young doctor to pursue a sporting career, there are a lot of parallels between the two parties and I believe a balance between sport and studying is something that should be encouraged.
The university’s director of sport Cathy Gallagher said: “The sponsorship provided by Professor Mackay is hugely significant to the continued development of our football programmes.
“We deliver excellence in both men’s and women’s sport, where the education of students on and off the field of play is central to our philosophy, the essence of which is shared by our sponsor.”
Known for working with some of Scotland’s most prominent sportspeople, Professor Mackay has revolutionised the treatment of serious knee and ankle injuries using his innovative Internal Brace technology which enables athletes to safely return to competitive sport significantly earlier than through conventional surgery.
Based at the Kings Park Hospital in Stirling, Mackay also operates at The Space Clinic in Edinburgh and Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow.
He has worked extensively with the Scottish Rugby Union, Rangers and Celtic football clubs and Scotland’s Olympians via his tie-up with Scottish Institute of Sport.
He was also the official doctor for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.