no longer just a sighting!
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY FOR YEARS. My number one Liverpool cult fantasy for the past several seasons has finally emerged from occasional murky cameos on the pitch to reveal his mind and soul, and I am rejoicing with the force of a supernova. erjika, our dream has come true -- THE BIG INTERVIEW: ROB PRICE!!!!!!!!!!!
Rob, talk us through a general day at Melwood for you...
We begin with a medical meeting just before the players arrive to discuss the injured players and outline a plan for the day. We then assess the injured players before reporting to the manager and coaching staff to inform them which players will be available for the training session. Then it's treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, covering training, recovering the players after sessions and preparing them for the next game. We also prepare all the medical kit we travel with, making sure we have everything we need. We also have to make sure we keep up with our continuing professional development. Most of our staff are registered now to do their Msc's. I've got my Msc and I am registering this summer to do my next qualification. We try to keep-up-to-date with all the advances in medicine.
How proud does it make you to work for Liverpool?
I'm very proud to be working for this club. As jobs go, they don't come any bigger than working here at Liverpool Football Club.
Did you support LFC as a youngster?
No, I was an Oldham Athletic fan when I was a lad. It was just because I grew up in Oldham and wanted to support my local team. I've got a six-year-old son now who is absolutely mad about Liverpool and has every kit going. I've also got two girls who were born here in Liverpool, who already bounce around to the Fernando Torres song!
Aside from football what do you do to unwind?
Apart from football I just spend time with my family. We work so many hours here and it's often seven days a week, so any spare time I get I like to spend with my three children.
You joined the club just after the euphoria of Istanbul. What was it like coming to Melwood at such a buoyant time?
The place was bouncing but in football things move on very quickly. That happened in May and I came in a few months later when the team was already into a new Premier League campaign. So the concentration was on that and no-one rests on laurels and the way we look at it, is that whatever is achieved this year, we want to do better next year.
Since you arrived the club has been involved in a number of finals - what would you say was the highlight?
I get enjoyment and satisfaction from things that I do day-in day out. I get satisfaction when we get a diagnosis right, I get satisfaction when I see injured players getting back into training and whenever we play a small role in contributing to the success of Liverpool Football Club. I've been to a Champions League final, an FA Cup final and World Club Cup final, but as part of the medical staff working on those days, your attention is focused on the game and making sure you do the job right. You don't necessarily get caught up in anything else. So I get satisfaction from everything. I enjoy every game, I enjoy every training session. I don't look ahead to big games or occasions because for me every day is big.
What would you say is the worst injury you have ever dealt with?
One of the worst we've had to deal with since I have been here at Liverpool, was Momo Sissoko's in Benfica when he got the eye injury that I think has been well documented. That was a challenge because it is something that isn't common in football. The way Dr Waller dealt with that injury, not just on the pitch and in the dressing room, but the subsequent way he dealt with that injury in a foreign country was highly impressive and very professional. The way Momo got back as quickly as he did to play in the way he did was also fantastic.
And what about Daniel Agger's injuries last season?
Daniel had injury problems last year and these things always come up in football. You will get injuries that don't respond. We sought out the best consultants in the world and Daniel saw a number of these over the course of the season and I'm happy now that he's back in training and looking to keep on progressing with the first-team.
You have a background with the FA. Did you go to many high profile tournaments with England?
I was the under-21 physio at the FA. I went to the European Championships with them and also the World Youth Championships. It was great to go to big games but I regard everything I've done in the same light. When I was starting out in Sports physiotherapy and volunteering at very low levels, it was still special. I love sport, I love football and so to be involved in any capacity is fantastic.
You travel everywhere with the first-team. What would you say has been your favourite trip?
I think Anfield is fantastic and every day that you are there the atmosphere is brilliant. In terms of other grounds going to Goodison Park is always high-charged and interesting. All the grounds have their own special nuance but you don't necessarily remember them. In fact I don't often remember results I remember injuries.
Has there been an occasion where you have helped a player overcome an injury and then felt like you played a big role when they have gone on to perform well for the first-team?
The whole process is a team effort. Whether that be a player doing well, a player doing badly or being fit or not fit... It's not just me, the other physio staff, or the doctor. Everyone at Melwood plays a part to get those players on the pitch and when a player is successful everyone is happy. But I don't think we take individual satisfaction from that. It's the team ethic we have here that is the main attribute.
Hearts in eyes, what a stunning specimen of a man!
ps. Didi Hamann should really just write a travel guide already. True fact, I would buy it and dog-ear the hell out of it.
Rob, talk us through a general day at Melwood for you...
We begin with a medical meeting just before the players arrive to discuss the injured players and outline a plan for the day. We then assess the injured players before reporting to the manager and coaching staff to inform them which players will be available for the training session. Then it's treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, covering training, recovering the players after sessions and preparing them for the next game. We also prepare all the medical kit we travel with, making sure we have everything we need. We also have to make sure we keep up with our continuing professional development. Most of our staff are registered now to do their Msc's. I've got my Msc and I am registering this summer to do my next qualification. We try to keep-up-to-date with all the advances in medicine.
How proud does it make you to work for Liverpool?
I'm very proud to be working for this club. As jobs go, they don't come any bigger than working here at Liverpool Football Club.
Did you support LFC as a youngster?
No, I was an Oldham Athletic fan when I was a lad. It was just because I grew up in Oldham and wanted to support my local team. I've got a six-year-old son now who is absolutely mad about Liverpool and has every kit going. I've also got two girls who were born here in Liverpool, who already bounce around to the Fernando Torres song!
Aside from football what do you do to unwind?
Apart from football I just spend time with my family. We work so many hours here and it's often seven days a week, so any spare time I get I like to spend with my three children.
You joined the club just after the euphoria of Istanbul. What was it like coming to Melwood at such a buoyant time?
The place was bouncing but in football things move on very quickly. That happened in May and I came in a few months later when the team was already into a new Premier League campaign. So the concentration was on that and no-one rests on laurels and the way we look at it, is that whatever is achieved this year, we want to do better next year.
Since you arrived the club has been involved in a number of finals - what would you say was the highlight?
I get enjoyment and satisfaction from things that I do day-in day out. I get satisfaction when we get a diagnosis right, I get satisfaction when I see injured players getting back into training and whenever we play a small role in contributing to the success of Liverpool Football Club. I've been to a Champions League final, an FA Cup final and World Club Cup final, but as part of the medical staff working on those days, your attention is focused on the game and making sure you do the job right. You don't necessarily get caught up in anything else. So I get satisfaction from everything. I enjoy every game, I enjoy every training session. I don't look ahead to big games or occasions because for me every day is big.
What would you say is the worst injury you have ever dealt with?
One of the worst we've had to deal with since I have been here at Liverpool, was Momo Sissoko's in Benfica when he got the eye injury that I think has been well documented. That was a challenge because it is something that isn't common in football. The way Dr Waller dealt with that injury, not just on the pitch and in the dressing room, but the subsequent way he dealt with that injury in a foreign country was highly impressive and very professional. The way Momo got back as quickly as he did to play in the way he did was also fantastic.
And what about Daniel Agger's injuries last season?
Daniel had injury problems last year and these things always come up in football. You will get injuries that don't respond. We sought out the best consultants in the world and Daniel saw a number of these over the course of the season and I'm happy now that he's back in training and looking to keep on progressing with the first-team.
You have a background with the FA. Did you go to many high profile tournaments with England?
I was the under-21 physio at the FA. I went to the European Championships with them and also the World Youth Championships. It was great to go to big games but I regard everything I've done in the same light. When I was starting out in Sports physiotherapy and volunteering at very low levels, it was still special. I love sport, I love football and so to be involved in any capacity is fantastic.
You travel everywhere with the first-team. What would you say has been your favourite trip?
I think Anfield is fantastic and every day that you are there the atmosphere is brilliant. In terms of other grounds going to Goodison Park is always high-charged and interesting. All the grounds have their own special nuance but you don't necessarily remember them. In fact I don't often remember results I remember injuries.
Has there been an occasion where you have helped a player overcome an injury and then felt like you played a big role when they have gone on to perform well for the first-team?
The whole process is a team effort. Whether that be a player doing well, a player doing badly or being fit or not fit... It's not just me, the other physio staff, or the doctor. Everyone at Melwood plays a part to get those players on the pitch and when a player is successful everyone is happy. But I don't think we take individual satisfaction from that. It's the team ethic we have here that is the main attribute.
Hearts in eyes, what a stunning specimen of a man!
ps. Didi Hamann should really just write a travel guide already. True fact, I would buy it and dog-ear the hell out of it.