@@@Medical Tales from Liverpool FC@@@

Featuring Phil Babb, Jon Otsemobor, Michael Stensgaard, Alberto Aquilani and more.

'The modern age of football is one of multi-million pound players who are training day in and day out on intense fitness schedules, often playing three games within a week. The responsibility of keeping these players in peak condition is spread between many staff but none are more important than club physios and medical staff who have become the forgotten men of football. Dominic Griffiths-Smith, a former member of the medical team at Liverpool, lifts the lid on some of his experiences during his time at Anfield by recounting some of the most shocking injuries:

"Phil Babb - A testícle bouncer. That was pretty rare but we were always prepared for the call. I remember it was a Sunday afternoon and I was at home enjoying a nice roast with the family - it was my day off. Then I got the call. It was Dr West from the medical team. "Get down to Anfield right away Dom," he yelled. "We've got a TB." As soon as I got the call I dashed down there. When I arrived he was in a pretty bad way. He was half conscious and I could hear him muttering something about 'never going teabagging again'. We got him a warm cup of tea and then took him to the Groin Reunion Displacement Centre in Liverpool. They stitched him up but there are some things he'll never do again and Dr West warned him that exceeding two a day could cause permanent damage.

Michael Stensgaard - He was a poor lad was our Michael. He managed to dislocate his shoulder twice when using an ironing board. Unfortunately his insurance policy didn't cover such accidents. As strange as it sounds in Denmark it's quite common for males to do the ironing. When he signed for us I suppose the negotiators took it for granted that he wouldn't be doing it but this was a big eye opener in terms of cultural differences for the whole club.

Jon Otsemobor - The coaching staff always teach players what to do when defending free kicks. Jon was fortunate enough to have the quick-thinking to translate these techniques into another scenario. He was in a bar when someone let off a few shots. He did the sensible thing. He got his buttocks on it. The old fashioned delve and switch and managed to take two bullets in the left cheek. The first was a clipper. No problem. The second was a lodger. Initial scans suggested it was lodged in the cheek but further probing showed that it had encroached on his ringpiece. To get it out we had to use the 'Sun Zhi' technqiue. I tell you what I've never seen a pair of tongs quite like them. Dr West had to use them in conjunction with a series of pullies and chains. After three days they managed to dislodge it. The experience left Jon pretty shaken.

Alberto Aquilani - There was something strange about this from day one. The whole thing never came to light until Brendan (Rodgers) joined last summer, just a week before I retired in fact. He held a meeting with Alberto and his wife as well as the whole medical team to assess what the extent of his injuries were. It was when his wife revealed that he particpated in regular sessions of 'plumb hopping' and 'cavity sifting' that suddenly the whole thing became clear. He was never seen at Anfield again."

Griffiths-Smith will be releasing a book in the third quarter of 2013 which recounts many other tales.'