Speedy treatment for injured players

SPEEDY TREATMENT FOR INJURED PLAYERS

By Peter Driver

NEWCASTLE UTD TAKE DELIVERY OF ELECTRIC STRETCHER CARRIER

Sir Bobby Robson, John Carver, 1st Team Coach, Eddie Rutherford, Facilities Manager together with Newcastle United's grounds staff and representatives from Rickerby Ltd.

Injuries that occur during hard fought European and domestic games, and sometimes, in training are unwanted but are also inevitable. Sir Bobby Robson, like every other manager in the English Premiership, wants to select his team from a fully fit squad with all players pushing for a coveted place on match days.

So when injuries do occur, early diagnosis and swift treatment are imperative. And Newcastle United have just received help from a most unlikely source, the suppliers of their turf maintenance equipment, Ransomes Jacobsen Ltd. The Ipswich based manufacturer provides Newcastle with a range of equipment for maintaining the pitch at the St James' Park stadium and their magnificent new training ground and youth academy at Darsley Park.

Ransomes Jacobsen also manufacture golf cars and small electric vehicles and using the same technology have provided the Club with a specially designed electric-powered E-Z-GO Stretcher Carrier, identical in every way to the vehicle that was used at Wembley during Euro '96 and at stadiums on the continent.

Physiotherapist, Derek Wright says, "With a facility that covers more than 90 acres, the changing rooms and other facilities at the Darsley Park complex can be a considerable way from the area where the players are training. With players costing £ millions, it's very important that when injured during a training session they can get back to the medical facilities quickly and without aggravating the injury further. This new vehicle will ensure that we can get medical treatment to them quickly and avoid any possible further injury."

Sir Bobby Robson speaking at the recent delivery said, "I have fond memories of my time as manager of Ipswich Town and I remember Ransomes as they supplied turf equipment to the club way back then and for decades before that.

"This new stretcher carrier is an excellent addition to the medical facilities here at the training ground; it is versatile and can be used at the Academy as well for the senior players."

Supplied by local Ransomes Jacobsen dealer, Rickerby Ltd of Hexham, the E-Z-GO Stretcher Carrier completes the delivery of a contract for the upgrading of turf maintenance equipment for Eddie Rutherford, Facilities Manager and his grounds care team.

For further information please contact: Peter Driver on 01376 535400