Some things are just more important than football
THE world of football was saddened by the passing of Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery, whom the nation had taken to its heart as he battled against his cruel illness. Footballers often receive bad press but Jermaine Defoe has shown the other side with his unstinting love, support and affection. An absolute credit to his profession and a shining example to all. The famous Bill Shankly quote that football is more important than life really sounds stupid when you weigh up what really does matter. Like most Boro fans, following the club has provided more failure than success, but it pales into insignificance when compared to the loss of human life.
Twenty four hours before the news broke of Bradley’s sad passing we heard Wolves goalkeeper Karl Ikeme had been diagnosed with a form of leukaemia.
It is appears abnormalities had shown up on a blood test after the players completed their medicals after returning to training. The discovery highlights the incredible progress which has been made at clubs with the introduction of sports scientists and thorough monitoring of players’ health.
Long gone are the days when players returned two stone overweight and ran on Saltburn beach and up Eston Hills to shed the unwanted pounds.
Treatment was the “magic sponge” and a few anti inflammatory tablets! At the end of last season I spoke at the FMA (Football Medical Association) dinner following their annual conference.
It was educational and enlightening to learn exactly what these professionals bring to the game and how much detail and planning goes into ensuring nothing is left to chance.
Preparation and planning of individual training requirements prevents problems before they occur and in the case of Ikeme enables early diagnosis that could be a lifesaver.
Boro fans will join in with their Wolverhampton Wanderers counterparts on the opening day of the season to show support to the man who kept six clean sheets in ten appearances for the Boro before a hand injury forced him to return to Molineux in 2011.