The British Medical Team has moved forward in leaps and bounds from its infancy on the muddy fields of Northowram, Halifax in the winter of 2005. Any doctors who presented themselves to the trials were selected for the team regardless of fitness and footballing ability – such was our enthusiasm to enter the international scene! Whereas our common interests in football and the delivery of the very best healthcare did win us friends and popularity amongst the participating nations of the Health and Medicine in Sports conference, our success on the football fields in Mainz Germany were sadly lacking.
Our team has since evolved (we employed a full time coach ex West Ham player Dave Llewellyn) so has our resolve to get ourselves and our patients healthier, through the participation in competitive sports. Following the 3rd place we achieved in Australia and again in Lithuania, we finally won the title in South Korea 2009. We remain competitive in every match we play.
The publicity we have generated with this success, in all media outlets has reinforced the message of achieving fitness and health by leading from the front and by example. This is at the heart of our organisation; that we as doctors are not just there to advise but actually act upon it and take things to the next level. If your doctor can do it, so can you! Further, we have participated in a number of initiatives to raise awareness of health issues in the general public focusing primarily on men. The Shaype Up programme in Halifax is just one example of this.
During 2011 the organisation achieved charitable status with the mission of improving the health of patients by encouraging participation in sports and active lifestyles. Our continued commitment to charitable causes saw us raise monies for a variety of charities including Macmillan relief, the children’s hospital in Austria, local hospices and children’s education and football training in Calcutta India. Our current focus is on children with Diabetes and we will raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
The British Medical Football Team is able to function thanks to the support of many people including players, spouses, friends, supporters and sponsors. From an organisational viewpoint, the team is run by the following people:
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Club Secretary: Dr Arif Kazi.
Back in November 2005, when I chanced upon an advert at the back of a GMC publication, I could not believe my eyes “a team from Great Britain is invited to participate in the World Medical Football Championships in Germany”. Wow that`s at the same time as the 2006 Football World Cup! After a few days of investigation I was determined to get a team to Germany and with the help of Eric Harrison from Manchester United The British Medical Team was born.
I am a full time GP trained in Aberdeen and then Halifax and now working in Sowerby Bridge, with an interest in General Practice Education. Evenings are taken up by family and this leaves me little time for much else!
Contact: [email protected]
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Club Captain: Dr Paul Fourie.
Dr Paul Fourie is a GP, having studied at Newcastle University; he worked in Hull and Guernsey before settling in Lancashire, working in Blackburn. He joined The British Medical Team at its inception in 2005, and has played each year, competing in Germany, Australia, Lithuania, South Korea, Austria, England, Sweden, Hungary and Brazil. His career highlight was being part of the team that lifted the cup in 2009 after an exciting final against Brazil, in the Olympic Stadium in South Korea.
Paul is married with 3 children, and is trying to balance work and play.
Contact: [email protected]
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Team Coach: Mr David Llewellyn.
The British Medical Football Team is very lucky to have Dave Llewellyn as its coach. Dave has had this position since 2006 and has seen the team take the championships in South Korea 2009 and come runners up in Austria 2010. His professional footballing career spanned 10 years and included:
Contact: [email protected]
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Club Admin Support: Dr John Zak.
Dr John Zak is a GP, he studied at Manchester and has worked full time in his practice in Clitheroe since 1994. He joined The British Medical Team at its inception in 2005, his contributions to the team include his goalkeeping skills and helping in the backroom activities in connection with the club.
John is married with 4 children, and is active with football and mountain biking as well as fitting in work from time to time!
Contact: [email protected]
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Our team has since evolved (we employed a full time coach ex West Ham player Dave Llewellyn) so has our resolve to get ourselves and our patients healthier, through the participation in competitive sports. Following the 3rd place we achieved in Australia and again in Lithuania, we finally won the title in South Korea 2009. We remain competitive in every match we play.
The publicity we have generated with this success, in all media outlets has reinforced the message of achieving fitness and health by leading from the front and by example. This is at the heart of our organisation; that we as doctors are not just there to advise but actually act upon it and take things to the next level. If your doctor can do it, so can you! Further, we have participated in a number of initiatives to raise awareness of health issues in the general public focusing primarily on men. The Shaype Up programme in Halifax is just one example of this.
During 2011 the organisation achieved charitable status with the mission of improving the health of patients by encouraging participation in sports and active lifestyles. Our continued commitment to charitable causes saw us raise monies for a variety of charities including Macmillan relief, the children’s hospital in Austria, local hospices and children’s education and football training in Calcutta India. Our current focus is on children with Diabetes and we will raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
The British Medical Football Team is able to function thanks to the support of many people including players, spouses, friends, supporters and sponsors. From an organisational viewpoint, the team is run by the following people:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Club Secretary: Dr Arif Kazi.
Back in November 2005, when I chanced upon an advert at the back of a GMC publication, I could not believe my eyes “a team from Great Britain is invited to participate in the World Medical Football Championships in Germany”. Wow that`s at the same time as the 2006 Football World Cup! After a few days of investigation I was determined to get a team to Germany and with the help of Eric Harrison from Manchester United The British Medical Team was born.
I am a full time GP trained in Aberdeen and then Halifax and now working in Sowerby Bridge, with an interest in General Practice Education. Evenings are taken up by family and this leaves me little time for much else!
Contact: [email protected]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Club Captain: Dr Paul Fourie.
Dr Paul Fourie is a GP, having studied at Newcastle University; he worked in Hull and Guernsey before settling in Lancashire, working in Blackburn. He joined The British Medical Team at its inception in 2005, and has played each year, competing in Germany, Australia, Lithuania, South Korea, Austria, England, Sweden, Hungary and Brazil. His career highlight was being part of the team that lifted the cup in 2009 after an exciting final against Brazil, in the Olympic Stadium in South Korea.
Paul is married with 3 children, and is trying to balance work and play.
Contact: [email protected]
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Team Coach: Mr David Llewellyn.
The British Medical Football Team is very lucky to have Dave Llewellyn as its coach. Dave has had this position since 2006 and has seen the team take the championships in South Korea 2009 and come runners up in Austria 2010. His professional footballing career spanned 10 years and included:
- West Ham United 1966 to 1973
- Peterborough United 1973 to 1976
- Won 3 Welsh 'Under-23' caps when at West Ham United
- Won 4th division with Peterborough 1973/74
Contact: [email protected]
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Club Admin Support: Dr John Zak.
Dr John Zak is a GP, he studied at Manchester and has worked full time in his practice in Clitheroe since 1994. He joined The British Medical Team at its inception in 2005, his contributions to the team include his goalkeeping skills and helping in the backroom activities in connection with the club.
John is married with 4 children, and is active with football and mountain biking as well as fitting in work from time to time!
Contact: [email protected]
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