A new physio has taken up his position on the Blyth bench.
Chris Bell, who is still registered as a player for the Spartans, takes on the role following the departure of Bev Doherty.
Chris is in his second spell at Croft Park.
“I joined the club about ten years ago when John Charlton and Graeme Clark were in charge,” he said. “I wanted more game time than I was getting so after a season and a half, and then under boss Paul Baker, I moved to Gateshead. From there I moved to south Shields then Seaham Red Star, Shildon, Bishop Auckland, Whitley Bay, Bishops again, Ashington, back to Bishops, Consett and then Blyth at the start of the current season!”
Sunderland – based Chris qualified as a physio a year ago after training for three years. He works at a private practice in Heaton and also helps out the Sunderland Academy team.
His footballing career as a right winger was put on hold last summer when he had problems with a knee cartilage.
“It’s great to get more involved with Blyth,” he commented. “We’ve a great bunch of lads here and a very good footballing side.”
Will Chris have to change in terms of moving from mainly being a player to being one of the management team?
“I’ll still have a good laugh with the lads but I suppose it’s going to be more of a challenge. I will need to take everything more seriously as there are loads of things which need thinking through before a game, what might emerge as issues and having procedures in place in case of emergencies.”
Chris hopes to be opening a small gym in Washington soon with his best mate, Ian Watson {‘Busted’] who left Blyth for Darlington earlier this season.
In terms of his career in the world of physiotherapy, where does he hope to$ go?
“Well, I’d love to get a job with a Premier League club. That would be great!”
In the meantime Chris approaches the end of his career as a footballer with an audacious claim.
“I go out with the most nut-megs in non-league football!”
The Blyth dressing room are sure to have their own views on that!