How her dislocated knee went round the world
Jane O’Toole has become an internet sensation after her painful, self-performed pitch procedure goes viral
When Jane O’Toole went in for a 50-50 tackle against Inverness last weekend, all she was thinking about was winning the ball. And when the St Mirren centre-back somehow dislocated a kneecap making the tackle, the only thought on her mind was punching it back into place with her fist to relieve the excruciating pain, then getting on with the game.
It was, according to her, the obvious thing to do. Nothing to make a fuss about, as if hammering your kneecap back into place is a routine problem to solve on a football pitch.
The video of that finger-curling moment went viral, showing the 29-year-old roll over once, in obvious pain, grimacing throughout, but not screaming, with the kneecap visibly out of place as she furiously and repeatedly hit the side of her own knee to get it back to where it should be.
O’Toole then gets to her feet, irritably waves away concerned team-mates and opposition players and gets back into position at the heart of the defence.
St Mirren were losing 6-0 to Inverness at the time, the game was lost, but the captain would not abandon her team. She played well too, conceding only one more goal, then it was over and her normal life as a dentist in Glasgow could resume.
Except, this was not normal. How could anything like that be normal? Anyone who has dislocated a knee, elbow or shoulder will know it is agony. To carry on playing, after putting it back into place with brute force, seems almost superhuman. Not, though, to the player herself.
“It was just a 50-50 challenge and I won the ball, but I knew straight away the kneecap had come out,” says O’Toole, who has been stunned by the reaction. “I didn’t really think, to be honest. It was just instinct. I knew it needed to be put back in because it happened to me before when I was playing for Motherwell in 2014 and that is what the paramedics had done.
“I didn’t know how to do it, but I do now. I could do it myself again. There were no paramedics there. We’d had to wait for an ambulance the last time – it had to be done. What was I supposed to do?
“The pain is pretty bad; if anything you get some relief when it goes back in. When it’s out, it’s excruciating. You just want to get it back in place as quickly as possible. I’ve always had a high pain threshold, but this is something else. I was in agony.
“I hit it twice and it wasn’t budging. I think it was the third punch that I got it back where it should be. I gave it a few more slaps just to make sure. It was a bit tender, but it felt better.
“I wanted to carry on. I knew I was needed on the field and, being the captain, I need to set an example. It’s just the mentality of the women’s game; you just get up and get on with it. Coming off never crossed my mind. We had subs, but I’m the captain. I’m not letting the side down. No way. The game wasn’t going well; we were losing 6-0, but we only lost 7-0, so I must have done OK after that. It’s my job as captain to set an example. I don’t see it as anything more than that.”
Matter of fact, almost dismissive, but because this was not the first time it had happened, she feels genuinely bemused such a fuss has been made.
“I remember waiting for the paramedics the first time and that was bad. But pain-wise, putting it back in myself – this was worse. I had gas and air with the paramedics, but it was far better getting it back in as quick as possible. My team-mates asked if I was coming off. I said, ‘Absolutely not’. My parents and my two sisters were worried I’d played on, as you would expect, and, when I spoke to my physio a few days afterwards, he wasn’t too happy with me playing on because I could have done more damage. I haven’t, thankfully, and I’ll be back at it by the middle of March.”
The video has been shared around the world, sparking amazement and admiration in equal measure. England international Lucy Bronze shared the video on Twitter with the words, “A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do” complete with strong-arm emoji. O’Toole was flattered.
“Some of the girls have shown me some of the comments,” she continues. “I’ve seen the Lucy Bronze one. That was good, I’m chuffed with that one. But, no, I didn’t expect anything like this. I’ve stayed clear of reading the comments. I’m aware of issues like trolling around women’s football, but from what I can gather it has mainly
‘I know what people think about dentists. We are the ones who normally cause the pain’
been nice, so obviously I’m pleased. I think there have been articles about it in Spain. It’s been pretty crazy, but I didn’t want any fuss. It has taken me by surprise. At first, I didn’t know what to make of it all, but after a few days, I’m happy, I suppose. Anything that shows people what women’s football is really like.”
The game has been O’Toole’s passion since she was a child growing up in Cambuslang, on the outskirts of Glasgow. She went to watch Celtic home and away with her father and has always played when she can, combining her degree in dentistry at Glasgow University with playing for the university team.
“I would have loved to have played professionally, but the opportunities weren’t there. But I’ve always played football. It’s my passion in life and I’m delighted to see that so many young girls have the chance to play professional football, north and south of the border. It’s changing for the better and that is great to see.
“I love being a dentist. I’m 29 now. I’ve got plenty of years left in me. I’ve always been determined to carry on playing for as long as I can. I’m just happy that doors are open to young girls now that weren’t open to me.
“I’ve been lucky. I’ve got regular hours as a dentist Monday to Friday, so I can train three or four times a week and play on Sundays.
“The funny thing is, when I see my patients, I always ask how they are. Now they are asking me how I am.
“I know I won’t get much sympathy, I know what people think about dentists. We are the ones who normally cause the pain. We’re not really trained in kneecaps though.”
She laughs when it is suggested the video is inspirational.
“I certainly wasn’t thinking that at the time. In women’s football, we don’t complain and make a fuss. We take a whack, we get up, we get on with it. I’m sure most [players] would have done the same if they knew what they had to do. You just power through.”
Think about that and then ponder what would happen if a high-profile male player suffered the same injury.