THE Blackburn Sunday League has recruited a physiotherapist to attend league games this season.

The one-season experiment begins when the league kicks off at Pleasington Playing Fields this Sunday where Sean Riley will be on call to attend to injuries ranging from twists and pulls to broken limbs.

And the league's committee is hoping that if it proves to be a success, the scheme will be carried on in future seasons with clubs contributing towards the cost.

Details of the league's newest recruit have already been sent out to each club in the league.

With four players breaking legs and ankles last season, the league decided it was time to raise awareness on how to deal with injuries. And financing the one-season package was the ideal way to highlight the problem.

The league has not had specific first aid present at league fixtures since the Red Cross stopped attending games 15 years ago due to other commitments.

Sean, 33, who pass his grade A diploma after attending a two-week course at Lilleshall, has worked closely with the management teams at Great Harwood Football Club for the past three seasons.

And he has a vast knowledge of the Blackburn Sunday League having played and managed Third Division side Walmsley before hanging up his boots at the end of last season.

League secretary Frank Mitchell said that he hoped the scheme would change clubs' attitude towards first aid.

He said: "Sean will be present at most league fixtures this season to help players with any niggling injuries they may have, but more importantly being able to deal with broken limbs promptly while we wait for an ambulance to arrive. "We want this to be a success and hopefully our clubs will feel the same way to and will contribute towards financing the scheme in the future."

Sean is looking forward to his new role in the game which he insists is the way forward to help ensure players' safety on and off the football pitch. A treatment room has already been set up in the pavilion where he will be based while his motorbike with panniers packed with first aid equipment will mean he can get to the scene of an injury quickly.

He said: "I approached the league to offer my services because I think players and managers don't really know enough about first aid. My main role is to deal with players injuries when and if they occur and in the case of serious injuries make them as comfortable as possible and carry out what treatment I can."

He added: "However if a player comes to me before kick off complaining about an injury I would advise him not to play if I felt it was going to cause any further damage. Then it is up to the player and his manager to decide if he plays or not."

Sean is hoping to use the one-year experiment as a stepping stone to get into professional football and next summer he will be taking his grade B diploma.

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