Katy is looking after the Bluebirds’ footballers well

Haverfordwest County’s footballers can play in the Welsh League during this new campaign safe in the knowledge that their on-field bumps and bruises can be well looked after by sports Therapist Katy Griffiths, who has joined the Bluebirds and will be using her expertise this season.

Katy already looks after them during midweek training sessions where she diagnoses muscle pulls or other injuries, sorts out treatment and seeks to repair any minor damage sustained during the previous match.

Not content with that little lot, Katy also works with Haverfordwest Rugby Club players in similar fashion, as well as holding her own private clinic from a treatment room at Haverfordwest Leisure Centre, helping not only sportsmen and women but anyone else of any age who requires physiotherapy.

Challenging sports therapy course

Katy gained her BSc (Hons) degree in sports therapy at the University of Gloucestershire, studying pitch-side safety, bio mechanics, injury diagnosis, physiology, mobility, anatomy, electro-therapy and the protocols involved, amongst a whole range of other things.
Katy is looking after the Bluebirds’ footballers well

“It was a challenging course,” said Katy, “but so necessary because as well as run of the mill injuries on a sports pitch there can also be serious neck or back injuries which must be treated thoroughly and with special care.”

She has set out at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium after spotting an advertisement in the Western Telegraph. Katy contacted the Bluebirds and after an interview with team manager Wayne Jones was soon installed as the club’s sports therapist for the 2013/14 season.

Early impact made with the players

Training takes place on Monday and Thursday evenings and Katy has quickly made an impact with her ability to diagnose and treat injuries, relax aching muscles and generally look after the players’ physical well-being.
“At first the players were full of quips about having an attractive young sports therapist as part of our team,” admitted Wayne, “but they have quickly realised how knowledgeable and professional she is, and already have the utmost respect for her considerable ability.”

Ask Katy about her work and she says wit

h a chuckle,
“The old ‘Magic Sponge’ approach is rapidly disappearing from sport because to look after players is a huge responsibility which, if possible, must be treated by professionals, using spinal boards and the protocols which follow neck and back injuries.

Real match-day involvement

Katy is also heavily involved on match days and prior to the start helps to tape or strap old injuries, looks at soft tissue problems that involves massage, and generally helps to get a Bluebirds’ team out on the pitch in tip-top condition. After there the matches there is also work to be done as she assesses bumps sustained in the game and recommends what can be done short-term to ease them.

Katy’s also working with ‘The Blues’ in rugby

Training at Haverfordwest Rugby Club takes place on Tuesday evenings and again Katy is involved there, tending to the players.
“There tends to be more blood injuries during matches in rugby,” said Katy, “plus damage to shoulders, alongside neck and back problems. These are the serious ones and I try to be at home matches to help.
“I also help Jonathan Llewellin with the County teams at under 15, 16 and 18 levels and most of these are played during days in the midweek so it is another chance to be involved.

Family involvement and support

“I’m a big fan of rugby because my grandfather Ray Williams was once the Welsh coach and is a great help when I need advice, as are my parents, Judith and Derek Griffiths. My uncle is Peter Morgan, the well-known British Lion, and on the football side my Uncle, Winston Griffiths, has been a stalwart at Haverfordwest County for many, many years, so both games are very much in my blood.

Equine interests

Outside of her work in sports therapy, Katy is a very keen horse woman who has taken part in show-jumping at the Pembrokeshire County Show and a number of other competitions with her 13 year old horse ‘Panache’. She was delighted to win the ‘Working Hunter Championship’ at the Withybush Showground during last year’s county show and has also done a little dressage.

Relishing the challenge

But as a member of the Association of Sports Therapists it’s her work as the owner of ‘West Wales Sports Injuries’ which keeps her most busy and she is relishing the challenge of working at the Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium with the Bluebirds.

Wayne Jones and Sean Cresser are delighted to have recruited her expertise:
“We feel the players are in good hands with Katy as part of our team,” said Sean, “and it is bound to help us long term, especially in dealing with niggly injuries which, unless they are treated early, can become long-term problems for the boys.”

And finally . . .

Having seen Katy Griffiths at work in the treatment room and on the pitch we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk can only agree – and Haverfordwest County can feel well pleased with her appointment because she is a focussed, quietly assured and knowledgeable young lady in the field of sports therapy!