ON a recent visit home, I watched Wolviston play Deerness Valley – and was reminded of the unsung heroes and heroines whose work enables such matches to go ahead.
At Wolviston, for example, the couple running the excellent little refreshment kiosk, the men taking the wheelie bins out at the final whistle, and the lady keeping the club’s social media profile alive – all important behind-the-scenes commitments!
Hartlepool United’s Danny O’Connor is perhaps one such example. Granted, his work as the physio is not behind the scenes as such – but his name rarely features whenever news about Pools hits the headlines.
Danny just goes about his business of keeping the players fit, with his satisfaction coming simply from enabling the squad to tick over, deploying his expertise without seeking recognition. With Hartlepool’s squad being small, meaning any injuries can have quite an impact, we owe Danny O’Connor a great deal – and he quite rightly enjoys a great rapport with Poolies.
I was privileged to interview Danny once and, not only is he a lovely, amiable chap, but a serious student of the complex science of physiotherapy.
Gone are the days of a man running onto the pitch with a “magic sponge” and a bucket of cold water ready to fix anything from a bump on the head to a broken leg! Even National League clubs now employ physios who have studied hard to know their business, and I think, in Danny O’Connor, Pools have one of the best.
Furthermore, what we see on a match day represents only a fraction of the contribution he makes to Hartlepool United.
Thanks, Danny, and, likewise, a nod of thanks, too, to everyone else who keeps the HUFC show on the road.
