afc A Lewin to leave, but which one?

[TF S4DK]

Gary Lewin looks to be leaving, its long been rumoured that Capello & the FA want him to join the national squad on a full-time basis.Now Neal Reynolds, who was previously the number one physio at Norwich, has been employed as our new assistant physio, a role which was/is currently held by Colin Lewin (Gary's cousin) so you assume Colin is stepping up to take the lead role or Colin's leaving or our injury problems are so bad we need three first team physios...Our doctor suppose to be going to the national team too, Grimandi going PSG, still nobody doing Dein's job, the club might wanna holla at Monster.

NORWICH CITY Physiotherapist Neal Reynolds is leaving the Club to become Assistant Physiotherapist at Premiership giants Arsenal.Reynolds joined the Canaries in 2001 from Oxford United and his skills have impressed the North Londoners enough to earn him an invite to join Arsene Wenger's backroom team.City boss Glenn Roeder said: "Neal is an excellent physio and we would have liked to have retained his services. However this is a good opportunity for him and we wish him all the best."Chief Executive Neil Doncaster added: "Neal's ability and reputation in the game have earned him an excellent opportunity at Arsenal and we would not want to stand in his way. Everyone at the Club would like to thank Neal for his hard work for the Canaries."

CANARIES Physiotherapist Neal Reynolds has said he will take with him fond memories of Norwich City as he makes his career move to Premiership giants Arsenal. Reynolds joined City in 2001, and has since impressed Arsene Wenger's team enough to gain him a permanant invitation to become part of the Gunner's workforce. First News spoke to Neal about the move.''Everything about the Premiership side of things attracted me to the role. I met Arsene Wenger a couple of weeks ago for a formal interview and he was very nice, so I'm definitely looking forward to it all. I am very sad about leaving, I love Norfolk, I love Norwich and I love the Club. I've been here seven years now and everyone here has made me feel very much at home. It's a great club and I've had some brilliant years since I've been here and it was great of Nigel Worthington to give me the opportunity to come here."I get on on very well with the lads here and the staff, and they've been absolutely brilliant. The area is such a beautiful part of the world, and East Anglia is such a great place to bring up a family so I will miss that. I hope everyone looks at this as a great move for me career-wise, I love the job I have here but I need to challenge myself again and when I saw this opportunity I had to grab it with both hands. If I didn't I would hate to think in two years that I would have regrets. It is very different to what I do here, here I'm the head physio in charge of things and there I won't be, and it will be a much more training ground based role.""It's been an amazing seven years and I've been very lucky. I've had some great times and there's been some sad times too. The year I started we got to the playoffs and that was a great stage to be involved in. Obviously then there is the big down if you lose, and that has to be my worst moment, because that feeling is an awful one.When asked about the challenges faced in his new job, Reynolds was positive about his future prospects. " I need to challenge myself on the physiotheraphy side of things, and as there will be more players to treat, this means that there will be more pressure from that point of view. Things will be different, but I have always said that I will treat people at this level exactly the same as I would people at the top in the Premiership. I always pride myself on treating everyone the same, so it's the enviroment that will be different more than anything."

[MrJibbles]

Both the club doctor and Gary could well be part of the England set-up full-time, did read it's some Gary would like to do.If Gary does go, big thank you to him. 100% Gooner!

[darkman]

How often do England play though?, pointless if you ask me

[Doug]

Its been confirmed that Grimandi is staying.“For the moment I am under contract and I am good where I am,” he told France-Football.The Gunner is under contract at Emirates Stadium until 2011.

[MrJibbles]

Arsenal have extended their physio team to improve treatment of injured players by hiring Neal Reynolds from Norwich City.Reynolds accepted a new role with the Premier League club this week to become the latest member of the Championship side's back-room team to leave Carrow Road following the departure of assistants Rod Dyer and Peter Shaw.Reynolds will take on a crucial role in overseeing the rehabilitation of Arsenal's injury victims."I'm quite ambitious and I just felt that if I didn't take this opportunity now then I might come to regret it later," he said.Reynolds will now get to watch long-time England physio Gary Lewin at work on a daily basis - as well as getting his hands on the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities that come as part of the Arsenal's new training HQ near Shenley, on the northern outskirts of London."As you'd expect, the facilities are immaculate," he said. "Don't get me wrong - the facilities at Colney are brilliant for a Championship club. But - if you pardon the pun - the facilities at Arsenal are in a different league again."Reynolds will be detailed with looking after injured players while Lewin is away with the team during the course of the season, be it on domestic or European business.His role is largely Shenley-based, overseeing the rehabilitation of players including striker Eduardo, whose leg was broken in a tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor last season."It's going to be a very different kind of role," said Reynolds. "It's a new role that they have designed in that a full-time, experienced physio stays at home at Shenley and looks after everybody. Eduardo is actually home in Brazil right now doing his rehabilitation work there and that may well be another part of the role - to go out there and have a look at how their rehab treatment compares and how he's actually progressing."And, of course, Arsenal do have a lot more foreign players who tend to go back to Spain, France, Holland or wherever for their rehab."

[MrJibbles]

Gary Lewin to join England team on full-time basisChartered Physiotherapist Gary Lewin is to leave Arsenal Football Club after nearly 30 years association with the Club. Gary is becoming the Head of Physiotherapy to the England Senior Men’s Football Team at the Football Association from 1st August 2008. Gary has been a physiotherapist with England since 1996, and has already been involved with the squad at three World Cup Finals and two European Championships, and has worked at over 100 matches for his national team. Lewin (44), who was a promising goalkeeper in his younger years, actually joined Arsenal as an apprentice in 1980, but decided to focus on a career in physiotherapy, following a playing spell with Barnet Football Club. After taking his appropriate physiotherapy exams, training at Guy’s Hospital School of Physiotherapy, Gary returned to Arsenal as a part-time physio in August 1983. However, Lewin’s rapid rise continued apace and in 1986 he was promoted to the position of first team physio on a full-time basis, with the Division One match at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on 27th September 1986 being Gary’s first match in the role. Since that day, Gary has been the Arsenal’s first team physio for precisely 1,205 matches in total, a quite remarkable achievement. During that time, Gary has worked under three managers (George Graham, Bruce Rioch and Arsène Wenger) and has been part of Arsenal teams which have won five League Championships, five FA Cups, two League Cups and one European Cup Winners’ Cup. Ken Friar, Acting Managing Director, who has known Gary ever since he first joined the Club as a young player, said: “Quite simply, Gary Lewin is one of the best physiotherapists in world football today. We are all sad that he is leaving us, but we totally understand and accept his decision to seek new challenges in this newly created full-time role with the Football Association, one that we know he will meet with enthusiastic professionalism. “Gary has played an integral role in the Club’s medical set-up for many years, and on behalf of Arsène, the directors, players and staff, I would just like to thank him for his massive contribution towards Arsenal Football Club during his time here. “Gary will be greatly missed by all the players and his work colleagues at the Club and I know he will still keep in touch, as he will still have many friends here at Emirates Stadium. We wish him the very best of luck for the future in his new position.” Ken Friar, Acting Managing Director, who has known Gary ever since he first joined the Club, said: “Quite simply, Gary Lewin is one of the best physiotherapists in world football. We are all sad that Gary is leaving us, but we totally understand and accept his decision to seek new challenges in the full-time role with the Football Association. “Gary has played such an integral role in the Club’s set-up for many years and I would just like to thank him for his massive contribution towards Arsenal Football Club during his time here. “Gary will be greatly missed by all the players and his work colleagues at the Club and I know he will still keep in touch, as he will still have many friends here. We would just like to wish Gary the best of luck for the future in his new position.” Lewin will continue in his role at the Club into pre-season until his contract with Football Association commences on 1st August. The Club will communicate the re-structure within the medical team in due course.[ Monday, June 09, 2008]http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav...full-time+basis

[TF S4DK]

Read at the weekend he was defo going.Will be weird not seeing him run on, his bro or cousin, got big shoes to fill. Lewin the only physio I know with a song.

[Doug]

not a good look...swear were going backwards as a club now

[Uncle Larry]

we will be a team of sicknotes now.. come like spurs

[TF S4DK]

I dunno about that...

[TF S4DK]

Gary Lewin admits he is sad to be leaving Arsenal after working as the club’s physio for 25 years.Lewin has quit The Gunners to become England’s head of physiotherapy and admits it was a tough decision to walk out on the club.“I've been at Arsenal all my working life, so it's going to be very strange leaving." Lewin told The FA’s official website."I have a lot memories here at Arsenal and a lot of friends, and it was really important to me that I left in the right manner. The club have been very good to me, they have shown what a great club they are in the way they have been to me as I prepare to leave."They have let me leave with their blessing, they are sad to see me go but send me off with their best wishes that I can be a success with my role with England."I was aware of the job coming up for several months, but it has only really been in the last couple of weeks as the interviews come around that I have had to make a decision, and looking at the job specification I really couldn't turn it down."

Pat Rice has paid a glowing tribute to Gary Lewin following the news that Arsenal's long-serving physiotherapist is leaving the Club.Lewin is ending his 28-year association with Arsenal after accepting a full-time post with the national side. The 44-year-old has worked part-time with England for 12 years and will take on a new role as Head of Physiotherapy.Rice is one of the few who have a longer relationship with the Club than Lewin. Arsène Wenger's assistant manager was Arsenal's captain when Lewin arrived at Highbury as a promising goalkeeper in 1980. Rice will be sorry to see him go."I have worked with Gary for so many years and he has been fantastic in the way he conducts himself," Rice told Arsenal.com."He is always on hand for anybody, and his knowledge is second to none, both on and off the field."All you have to do is look at the people he has helped to recover from serious injuries. Gary was there for Abou Diaby, Eduardo, John Terry and so many others."What Gary doesn't know about physiotherapy is not worth knowing."

[TF S4DK]

Gary Lewin is leaving Arsenal after 28 years with the Club.He arrived at Highbury as an aspiring goalkeeper in 1980 but soon turned his attention to physiotherapy. Now Lewin is established as one of the world's finest in his field.We caught up with Lewin shortly after the announcement that he will join the England national side on a full-time basis. In an exclusive interview, the long-serving Arsenal physio reflects on his long association with the Club, describes his role in player signings and reveals why Michael Thomas almost didn't score that famous goal at Anfield in May 1989.Gary, tell us about your new role with England.Obviously the job of a full-time physiotherapist in the England team came into full-time capacity when Mr Capello took over. It is something he believes in and he wanted to put that in place alongside a doctor. So over the last few months the FA put together a job spec, advertised it in April which I applied for because I have doing it for the last 12 years and then they offered it two or three weeks ago,. Since then I have been finalising the details with them.How difficult was your decision to leave Arsenal?It was an impossible decision to make. Being at Arsenal all my working life, first as a player, then travelling away to train as a physio before coming back. I have never really worked anywhere else and don’t know what life is like outside of Arsenal. The opportunity came up not only to work with the England national team on a full-time basis but to go around other sports, Europe and around the world to seek out the best practices around the world. It was one I couldn’t turn down. It took a lot of soul-searching and a lot of thought but in the end it was one I just couldn’t turn down.It is very, very difficult to say goodbye to Arsenal. This is probably the only job in the world that would get me to leave Arsenal because it has been part of my life since I left school. Obviously it will always be part of my life. I have some fantastic memories over the years, some big, big achievements and some big disappointments but as I said it will be part of my life forever.How will your England role change?My main role is looking after the team. That will expand to going around the clubs and working with the medical teams so we can almost put out an international player profile. That will mean when we go away to tournaments we will have a detailed profile on all the players that will help the management team select teams and squads. But then when we go away the continuity of the treatment can be maintained. So when we go around the clubs the actual patient care is at the ultimate limit. I can continue all the rehab and prehab that has been going on with the players. The clubs will benefit, the player should benefit and the England management should benefit because all round the players are being better catered for.Alongside that from a career point of view to be able to go around and get the best working practices in other sports is a real opportunity. What has a cyclist done to make them win so many medals? How do we prepare for the Olympics? How do rugby players deal with so much trauma? How is it treated? How do they treat injuries in Brazil, Australia, South Africa?. From a professional point of view it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.Do you remember when it all started for you as a physio?I was working at Guy's Hospital having qualified in June 1986 and was actually working in intensive care and medical wards. I got a call from George Graham asking for me to come up and see him - at the time I was doing the Reserve team on a part-time basis - and he said to me that the physio at the time, Roy Johnson, was leaving and would I like to take over. My first game at Arsenal was, during my notice period at Guy’s, Nottingham Forest away where Arsenal fans will remember Charlie Nicholas had an horrendous knee injury. That was a rude awakening for me and I think now it is over 1,200 games since then.Of course you arrived at Highbury in 1980 as a goalkeeper. How close were you to being a professional?I think I was well short. I did a two-year apprenticeship at Arsenal in the era of Pat Jennings, George Wood and Paul Barren. I think I was well short. I had the opportunity to go to other clubs and try to be a professional footballer but at the time I decided to get a qualification, mainly under the advice of Fred Street, the ex-Arsenal and England physio. That was when I got interested in physiotherapy.You were Reserve-team physio at the age of 19. Could that happen today at a top club?No, because in those days the minimum you needed was the FA diploma and a first aid certificate. So nowadays you need to be a Chartered physio or registered to the HPC.What are the highlights of your Arsenal career?I don’t think you will ever beat that night at Anfield in 1989, ever. It was a unique evening. I have been so, so lucky to have so many memories. The Cup double in 1993, the Cup Winners' Cup in 1994, the Double in '98, the Champions League Final. That was a highlight but also one of the biggest disappointments was losing to Barcelona. I have just been blessed with so many happy memories that it is difficult to pick out one. But the Liverpool night in '89, you will have to go some way to beat that.Which memories stand out on the medical side?Interestingly enough from the '89 game, fans might remember Michael Thomas had a medial ligament injury against Wimbledon 10 days before the game. We had a battle for those 10 days. I remember telling George [Graham] on the day of the game the Michael is fit to start but I can’t guarantee he will finish. That shows what I knew at the time because what a finish he had for us!I think any player you get back from injury, especially long term, you take a lot of satisfaction from. But the biggest satisfaction I get is watching Arsenal win. You are part of that team, the backroom team that has done everything they can to get everyone on the pitch and performing to the highest level. That has got harder and harder over the years. When I first started I worked on my own, now we have four. There is the general satisfaction of being involved in such a successful, friendly club.What have been your lowest moments at Arsenal?I think the only disappointments I have had are personal. We had a kit man here called Tony Donnelly who was here for many, many years and six months after he retired, he died from cancer. George Armstrong, who collapsed and died here on the training pitch — we spent a lot of time resuscitating him and trying to keep him alive. So too David Rocastle’s death; you won't meet a nicer fellow in the world. That is the greatest sadness, when people you have been with, worked with, pass away. Over the years people come and go so often and the nice thing is when you meet up with them again. Football is a universal language but it is also a universal friendship. You build them up in this working world and you have them for the rest of your life.What has been the secret of your longevity at Arsenal?Probably madness! I love the job, the job has been my life for such a long time and I think that shows in everything I do. I have enjoyed every minute of it, even the lows, but you take them with the highs. I enjoyed every working minute, working at a fantastic club with fantastic people. The club look after you, they are very professional, appreciate what you do and let you get on with it. I think that has been it. It is very satisfying what I do and I’d like to think the club has been very satisfied with the work that I have done in 22 years.How has the Club changed since you arrived?Dramatically. As I said when I first got here it was me, George Graham, Theo Foley and the kit man. Now we have a backroom staff at London Colney that goes into double figures; but then the demands have got bigger. You are working 24/7 and of course the intensity of the game has increased. The players are now finely-tuned athletes. So it has developed beyond all recognition really.Tell us about your relationship with Arsène Wenger.That has been one of the hardest things about leaving. I have been up front and honest with Arsène as this has been developing and he has been the same with me. You won’t get a better manager, you won’t get a nicer person to get on with. He is someone that lets you get on with your job, trusts you to do that and lets you know when he thinks things aren’t going right but also when they are going well. I just think the testimony to his work is what he has achieved in such a short space of time.Do you have an input when Arsenal consider signing players who have had career-threatening injuries, such as Marc Overmars and Kanu?Yes. They have an intensive medical with the doctor and all the backroom staff have a big say. There are players that have been here before but haven’t signed for medical reasons but you won’t read about it because that is how the Club works. You only hear about the player once they are signed. We have a big say and I think the whole club does. The fitness staff do, the scouts do, the medical team do, so they build up a complete player profile when they arrive. The backroom team uses top cardiologists, top orthopaedic surgeons who report their feelings to us and we report them to the Board and the manager.Physios deal with a player's physical issues. Do they deal with emotional issues too?You almost become a social worker. We use sports psychologists, fitness conditioning coaches but the all-round general health is done by the medical team which includes myself, Colin [Lewin], Ian Beasley the club doctor and masseurs. We work as a complete team. Colin Lewin, Joel Harris, John Kelly, Craig Gant, Tony Colbert, Ian Beasley, John Cook, David Wales — we are a complete medical team that work closely to look after the team.The fans have often chanted your name at matches. How does that make you feel?It makes me feel fantastic. They are such a special set of fans and have made me feel so special. I have a good rapport with them. It makes me feel appreciated, what I do, and again it is one of the many things I will greatly miss when I leave.There are a few injuries still healing at Arsenal. How are Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo doing?Tomas has had surgery on his knee and we expect him to be flying by pre-season. Eduardo will be longer although hopefully he will be back doing training during pre-season. We are setting no timescales for Eduardo because we don’t want to put him under pressure but we are confident he will make a full recovery. We have had some real nasty injuries and I think that is part and parcel of the game. Look back at the years we have been successful and we have had luck with injuries and not picked up many nasty injuries. Hopefully that will be the case next season.