Therapist Danny O'Connor is our guest for tonight's netcafe, and is answering questions about his career so far, as well as his food tastes.

If you want to ask him a question, send an e mail to media@darlingtonfc.org.

Don't forget about Boosting the Budget! Follow this link

https://fundraising.darlingtonfcsupportersgroup.org/pitches/boost-the-budget-20-21

And don't forget that on Saturday, we're re-running the 2011 FA Trophy final against Mansfield -- all 120+1 minutes of it. There's a Zoom interview with Chris Senior later in the week, while there are interviews with fans and players on the website in the build up to the game. The action begins at 3pm.

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How long did you study for?

Years!!!! And I’m still studying at the moment. I’m currently just finishing my second year of another degree, then all roads point towards a PHD (Dr Danny has a great ring to it don’t you think?)

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Do you have your own private practice?

I don’t have a private clinic, but I do work privately. I work mobile (so I come to your house). It’s just easier with the demands of football, family, and continuing education. I have plans next summer to open a clinic somewhere so I’m always on the lookout for the perfect place but until then I’m happy doing mobile work.

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How did you get into football?

Through Uni on my first degree, we had placements which put us in various sporting clubs that gave me a bit of experience in the game.

Generally, to get into higher level football you must volunteer your services and then go from there. It’s very interesting though as when I first got into football it wasn’t what I expected, I had a vision of being the guy that just went on the pitch when someone was injured and did a bit of first aid. That’s about 5% of what you actually do as there’s so much more work done away from the matches. It’s really hard work but very rewarding. 

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What's the most embarrassing injury you've ever treated?

There have been a few times when someone’s had a shot and a lad has taken a football right between the legs, had to avoid using the freeze spray on that one! It’s never bothered me but sometimes when your stretching a player on the pitch it can get you into some compromising positions which is very quickly pointed out by the fans, I think this season there has been some funny photos kicking about of me stretching Tez and Wheats.

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How do you feel when the crowd are cheering or jeering you when you walk on to the field?

Love it. The cheering and the “Ohhhhhhhhhhh” is hilarious from the Darlo fans, I’m sometimes tempted to do a few fist pumps in the air when I’m running on and displaying my blistering pace ‘Flexes biceps’  but I just can’t because I’ve got to remember I’m going on to treat an injury so I’ve got to stay professional! The jeering from opposition fans is also quality, I’ve had some hilarious stick from opposition fans, my favourite one was at home to York on Boxing Day when I walked past the away end and a York fan said “Bloody hell mate I bet there was no leftovers on your Christmas dinner”. You’ve got to love it haven’t you.

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What's the worst injury you've ever treated on the field?

In football I’d probably say Sam’s (Muggleton) leg last season against Southport. It was an horrific injury for him, from a personal note it was hard in the aftermath. I remember being at the hospital straight after the game with him and his Mrs, his family arrived at about around 11pm because they had to travel. To see the reality hit them all of what had happened to him and the impact it is going to have on his career was really difficult to see. It’s a real dark side of football that nobody ever sees. I always pull people up when they say thing like “huh all they do is kick a ball for a living” because at the end of the day these players risk their health and careers every time they take to the pitch.

I worked a season in rugby before football and that was my worst ever injury, a guy’s eyeball popped out after fracturing his eye socket, very gruesome stuff. Luckily though we got him safely to hospital and all is fine with him and his eye. The player bought me a bottle of whiskey too to say thank you (Clearly that’s why I got into Physio, for the tasty rewards ha ha)

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Have you ever been asked to treat an opposition player?

It’s generally standard practice to treat an opposition player, for example if two players from the same team get hurt, both physios go on to treat. One that stands out was this season against Altrincham away. The moment in the first half where the lad wiped Jarrett out and got himself sent off but took a boot to the face in the process, me and the other physio went on, Jarrett was fine so I went straight over to help the Altrincham player as their physio was sorting his extraction out.

 It was funny because the season before when we drew 3-3, I got loads of stick from their fans for time wasting at the end, and they instantly remembered during this game so continued to slate me. After I helped and was carrying him off all the fans were clapping, thanking me and telling me how great I was, then as soon as I came back out of the tunnel I was all the Fat B*stards under the sun again!

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Have you played football yourself? If you have, what position?

I played when I was younger and was quite a promising goalkeeper. Then I discovered beer and KFC and it all went downhill from there. Now I just use my talents to try and nutmeg anyone and everyone during breaks in training or before a game.

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Is it right that you were a therapist at Hartlepool?

I was at for Hartlepool for a while yes (please don’t shoot me). It’s much better here though, as soon as I got the opportunity to come here, I jumped at it, I loved how the everyone at the club is building together working towards getting back into the Football League. It matters so much to everyone which means it’s so much more special when the goal is achieved. Seeing the number of volunteers at the club and all the hours of hard work they put in, along with things the fans do like the 50/50 draw and Boost the Budget still blows me away now. Things like that are what makes the club so special, I’m all over stuff like that and love being a part of it. 

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What have been the highlights of your time at Darlington?

I’ve loved it all to be honest, there are specific games that stand out but generally they have all been highlights. From a physio point of view, it’s been great to see Joe Wheatley get back to his best this season. We had to manage him so much last season because he was playing injured, he would be round my house three days a week getting treatment so he could still train and get through games. Once he had his surgery, we worked so hard on getting him fit so it’s a great thing to see him back and playing as well as he has been. I can say the same thing for Jamie Holmes too, he’s lived and breathed his rehab and has put more work than anyone could have imagined into getting back playing, we are so close now so it’s going to be great to see him back doing what he does best.

I’ve got to say that his comeback goal will be the highlight of my time at Darlo though, I have said it to him since the day he got injured, I was quietly hoping it would be in the playoff final but the season finishing has ruined that plan.

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When you sit on the bench at matches, do you spend more time looking at our players for injuries than you do watching the game?

It depends really, if it’s a game where I know lads are carrying knocks I tend to be focussed on them most of the time just making sure they are ok and checking that they will be able to get through the game. I do get caught up in the games though and I LOVE questioning a linesman that’s given a suspect decision against us….but most of the time I like to think I stay professional

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Was the fastest you've ever run after Joe Wheatley's equaliser at Walsall?

Ha ha yessssssss! I definitely gave Usain Bolt a run for his money on that day, what an experience that was, it’s all a bit of a blur of what exactly happened. I just remember feeling so low when we were 2-1 down after the lads had put so much effort in and were by far the better team in my opinion. I was arguing with a Walsall fan when we got the free kick then paused to watch it being taken, it was difficult to see what was going on in the box because there were that many bodies in there but I just remember seeing the Darlo fans going crazy and I was off, then it’s blurry until I remember the gaffer saying “quick we better get off the pitch we are in the centre circle!” ha ha, it was an incredible experience to be part of.

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Have you ever come across players who have faked injuries?

Every time an opposition player goes down…. there’s never anything wrong with them. I wouldn’t say I’ve come across players that have faked them, but I’ve sadly encountered players that have insisted they were injured and said they couldn’t play even though in my opinion they were fine. It’s a massive shame but at the end of the day it’s down to the player and if he says he can’t play I can’t force him. Obviously, I can’t give names on here all I can say is luckily it’s not anyone who is here now.

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Have you ever received any unusual calls for treatment from a player?

All the time. Ha, ha! One that stands out is; I received a text at about 11.30pm one night from a player saying he had cut himself really badly cutting his fingernails, and should he go to hospital? I asked for a picture and he had very slightly nicked the nail bed to the side and it was weeping. My Mrs was encouraging me to say yes go to hospital but I knew if I did that he would really go and I’d have to explain to the gaffer why his player was exhausted because I sent him to hospital at midnight to get a plaster put on his finger. With a bit of reassurance that he won’t die, he avoided any hospital treatment and strangely enough the finger survived. It will cost you a bag of sweets for his name but its nobody that’s here now ha ha

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There's more to come!

In the question about how you got into football, you said 5% of your work is on the pitch, what's a rough idea of the other 95 per cent, please?

It varies from week to week really, my main duties are with the first team so I’m mainly busy with that, but I also cover the academy so there are around another 20 players I’ve got to monitor. An average week would involve; 

Monday - assessing the aftermath of whatever happened on Saturday’s game. I’ll speak to all of the lads individually, especially if I know they have knocks or bad injuries, because now’s the time to look at it, sometimes if it involves an assessment at my house but we approach each situation individually, 

Tuesday - we train on a Tuesday so it’s making a judgement call on who can/should train and who need to stay with me, usually resulting in a good hour or so phone call with the gaffer. We basically look at the situation and assess what needs to be done for the good of the player and also with an eye on whatever the fixture list is looking like and how we can get the best out of the squad while maintaining player health and fitness.

Wednesday - Academy day, home games aren’t so bad as I’m normally only busy on the afternoon but some away trips we leave at 8am so it turns out to be a long day, all worth it though and it’s always fun times when we travel away with the academy management team, it makes the long trips very bearable. 

Thursday - same as Tuesday really, the gaffer is generally focused on Saturday’s game so it’s working around what’s needed for that really, 

Friday - pre game day so it’s a case of managing who we need to, so they can get through Saturday’s game, normally it’s either a session again in my front room or going through individual protocols with a player. Also, I tend to speak to the gaffer again just to update him on any changes, 

Saturday - game day, my favourite part of it all, I get there early to get set up and then do anything extra with any lads that need more prep for the game, then it’s pitch side first aid during the game followed by a badly needed beer in the bar afterwards.

Sunday - I try to keep this as a family day so unless there’s been anything horrific or major happen in the game on the Saturday, or we are managing any injuries with the lads I try to disconnect from football. My Sundays normally involve swimming with my baby son Rory, a tasty Sunday dinner in the pub and me getting shouted at from the Mrs for not doing any jobs she’s told me to do during the week ha ha.

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What's your favourite fast food? 

Hands down KFC, I don’t mind a Parmo or a Chinese on a Saturday after a home game, but KFC is the elite (just writing this makes me fancy a bargain bucket)

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From Ruth Hetherington

If Darlo didn’t exist and you could be a physio for any other club in the world who would you choose and why? 

Hi Ruth

I’d probably say working for Middlesbrough. I’ve grown up as a Boro fan (again, please don’t shoot me) so I’d have to say to be a physio there would be my choice, obviously if Darlo didn’t exist of course :-), However, when I started out as a physio I’ve always joked about being AC Milan physio, with the idea of covering training on a morning, finishing on the evening and chilling out by the pool with my Mrs, Rory, my cat Roy and my newly acquired Italian pet goat ha ha, Plus I’m very easily corrupted so I’d suit Italian football, and if I was to be investigated I could pin it on the goat, you see.....I’ve got it all planned out ha ha 

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From Cameron Ritchie

Who's the best and worst trainer at the club? 

Oooo that’s a tough one. I honestly couldn’t say who’s the worst trainer at the club, this group of lads give it their all every single session, I know that sounds like a total cliché/sitting on the fence answer but I promise you they really do. From an injury rehab perspective it’s the same, if you think of the injuries we’ve had this year, we’ve had David Atkinson go through an unbelievable time with his ankle, which resulted in him having surgery, once that was done I had him with me at training two days per week and then any home match days. I had him doing gym sessions three days a week, then I also had him in a hydrotherapy pool doing rehab with me 2/3 days a week too. All of this while working rotational 12 hour shift where sometimes he would come straight from work to meet me at the pool to do a rehab session, in my opinion you can’t teach that to a player, it just shows how dedicated and how much of a top professional they are.

Same with Tommo, who if you remember was struggling with a groin strain earlier in the season, I would wake up at 7am to 3-4 texts off him wanting to know what today’s plan was so he could get working on it...unbelievable professionalism! So to answer your question...everyone is the best trainer, it’s all fun and banter beforehand in the dressing room but when they go out to train it’s serious and they leave it all on the training pitch. 

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From Mark

In the old days, the physio used to come running on with the magic sponge and cold(very) water.  Have you been tempted to get one of these to empty on any particular player? Is there any magic treatment you swear by?

 Hi Mark

I haven’t really been tempted to throw the water bucket at a player but there have been a few refs and linesmen I wouldn’t have felt a shred of guilt had I emptied it on them ha ha.

As for magic treatments, I wouldn’t say I swear by any particular treatment as it all depends on what’s needed for each individual situation, there are a few lads who get acupuncture off me regularly, which is always an interesting concept because some of them love it and some absolutely detest it. When we have stopped over before a game and once we’ve eaten, there are normally 5 or 6 lads that end up in my room needing some form of treatment/preparation for the game the next day and when I break the acupuncture needles out they are either greeted by smiles or absolute fear and terror. Once it’s done though they all agree it was worth it (or at least that’s what they tell me)

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Players have rituals they follow before a game do you have one?

I personally don’t have any specific rituals but this season we have kind of created one called ‘pre match food club’ at home games. Me and Gaz the kit man are always the first people at the ground for home games arriving at around 12pm, so obviously we need food. We started taking turns on who brings what food, Gaz would bring a variety of things like fish and chips or Macdonald’s and I would always bring KFC. It then began to be a trend and Jim (the keeper coach) got on board with it and purposely comes in early just for pre match food club. We have to sneak it in without Mark our strength and conditioning coach finding out what we have had, because he goes mad about it and starts educating us on the calorie intake and how poor the energy efficiency is in a KFC (which as you can imagine, I totally listen to....sorry Mark).

It’s worth it though because during the game me, Jim and Gaz can slaver on about how great and tasty whatever we have had for pre match food club was while Mark goes mad. Other than that, it’s just player rituals I tend to be involved in. For example Cams went on a streak of scoring in every game, on the first game he scored in I cracked his back and neck before he went out so I’d then find myself offering a back and neck crack to everyone because clearly it was me doing that before the game that made him score and nothing else.

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Danny , if you had £1,000,000 what would be your first purchase?

Oooooo what a question that is. I’d probably say the very first thing I’d buy is a celebratory KFC for anyone that wanted one, you’ve got to celebrate in style haven’t you when you become a millionaire ha ha

Oh...and the beer would be on me too, I’d just ask politely that everyone in the Tin Shed didn’t drink me out of business on the first day

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From Andy Hadrick

During these different difficult days, where physio and body conditioning are a must, please describe how you are instructing the team with mental wellbeing? A fluid demand for acknowledgement and achievement is a part of the sportsman's makeup. With wellness and an ability to focus a must. Team building and a mental sharpness can be achieved by a collective approach, but due to social distancing must be difficult. A group of individuals with a multitude of different needs is difficult when a hands on approach is available, with the lock down how are you maintaining team cohesion.

Hi Andy

It’s been a very tricky situation to maintain things like acknowledging players’ achievements due to the lack of sporting competition. You’re correct when you say that it’s part of a sportsman’s makeup but I do believe that the constant need for that kind of reassurance does depend on the individual player. With our group of lads there isn’t really any individual that’s needed that constant recognition of his achievements so you could argue we have been lucky in that way.

With everything that’s gone on we have really relied on the lads to maintain themselves really with only advice from the management team. This hasn’t really been a problem in our case though as this squad of players have played the game a long time and are top professionals so therefore have it ingrained in them to look after themselves without much guidance or request from us. The lads naturally do have a competitive nature though and this has shown when things like run times and distances are being compared in group messages, from my point of view it’s great to see as you can’t teach that. I honestly don’t feel like this lockdown has been detrimental to our team cohesion, if anything I would say it’s going to create a stronger bond, I know I have definitely missed the day to day process of everything at the club.

I really miss the dressing room, training and matches and I’m almost certain everyone else feels that way. Hopefully we can all get back to it though sooner rather than later.

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Part three to come soon!

Danny has mentioned KFC so much in his netcafe so far, then it's only fair to point out that other fast food outlets are available!

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From Adam Brownless

-- You seem to be a very positive influence within the club so my question is how big of an impact do you believe the coaching team have on overall morale?

Also who is on the treatment table the most?

Hi Adam

Thanks for that it’s always nice to be positive, I think the coaching team have a massive impact on the team morale. It’s a huge part of what Alun and Daz have brought to the club in my opinion. I think they are great at reading what is needed for the lads at a certain time, for example there have been points in the season when the lads have been a bit down after a defeat or looked a bit flat for whatever reason (standard occurrences in football) and the management team have always recognised it straight away, made changes and you can almost see an instant improvement. 

I’d have to say Wheats, he’s always in early before training and matches getting some kind of treatment whether it’s a massage, a stretching session or whatever. I’ll let him off though because he’s only taking my advice to look after himself after what he went through the season before, either that or he just loves my brilliant banter.

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Is there such a thing as a "magic sponge" or a modern day equivalent to heal a fallen player?

The good old magic sponge works miracles for some physios, I always take it as the sponge is an opportunity to just let a player calm down, you’ve got to think of what’s actually going on in the moment. A player is involved in a fast-paced game, takes a heavy knock or challenge, feels the pain, is most probably out of breath and thinking the world’s going to end. Whenever I go on I always just take a moment to calm the player down, it then allows them to compose themselves and give better feedback to me about the injury. Sadly though I don’t have a sponge so instead I just take a little bit longer to run on.!

What are the essentials inside the bag physios carry onto the pitch?

I’ve got all sorts in there. It’s mainly things like tapes and strappings, sprays and other first aid equipment really. There’s not a great deal that’s needed in there, it’s more things that will be needed in an immediate first aid situation to keep lads on the pitch (Safely of course). 

Is it always obvious when a player has a bad injury and do you sometimes have to overrule the braver ones who want to carry on and play through the pain?

Most of the times yes, I like to think I know all the players well enough to know that if they are down on the pitch how bad it’s potentially going to be. You see the likes of Adam Campbell, Tommo and Jarrett get lumps constantly kicked out of them but they always get up, if they were to stay down for a longer than average period of time I’d be concerned as they normally get straight back up. As for overruling people, I’ve had to do that a few times just to try and protect them from themselves really.

Will Hatfield is one that I lose sleep over worrying that he’s carrying a little niggle but no matter how much I hound him over the phone or in person he won’t tell me because he knows I’ll pull him out and he just wants to play and train through it (Guiseley away for example, there was no way he was coming off that pitch by his own choice). Joking aside and to be fair to him though when there’s been anything serious he’s always addressed it so I don’t lose that much sleep I just like to know everyone’s ok.

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Would you let Joe Wicks near any of your lads?

Absolutely not, it might be controversial but I’m not a fan of Joe Wicks, I don’t even know why but I’ve just never liked him. Same with Jamie Oliver.

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Have you ever seen anything like that run of really serious injuries we had at the beginning of the season?

Never in my life, you literally couldn’t write it could you? Two season finishing injuries within 20 minutes of each other with Holmsey and Trotts, all to go along with Atckys ankle injury…unbelievable.

Believe me when I tell you that we couldn’t have been much unluckier that we were at the start of the season, it got to the point where I started questioning myself about it all, is it something I’ve done? Is it something I’ve missed? I would constantly be speaking to a few Physio friends of mine to just explain what I’ve done and get their opinion on if there was anything that could be done differently. It made things worse that it was right at the start of a new management team coming in, I would sit at home worrying and thinking they must be thinking “How useless is this Physio? Two games in and we have three key players out long term”. Luckily the gaffer understood it was unfortunately just luck with those three injuries, Atcky was a simple tackle, Holmsey was a twist when running and Trotts was an awkward landing, you can’t do anything to stop any of them. 

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From Wullie Corrigan

What's the biggest kfc bucket you have consumed in one sitting?

Great question!!! I’ve been known to polish off a family bargain bucket when I was plastered in Benidorm

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From Bradley Cotton

1. What's the best moment of your physio career?

Football wise I’d say Walsall away, I’ve never experienced anything like that while working in football, it’s something I would have loved to experience as a football fan so to have it as part of the team it is something I’ll never ever forget. With this team and club I have no doubts there will be countless more moments like that but up to now I’d say Walsall.

Physio wise it’s hard to say, it’s always an amazing feeling to see an injured player return to play and especially score. You work so closely with lads who are injured and go through the ups and downs with them, constantly checking on them and trying to keep spirits and motivation high. Take Atcky for example, he worked so hard to get back after the initial injury, to the point where we got him playing games in the team, then was injured again and he ended up needing surgery, that’s an absolutely devastating thing for a player to go through. All that time and effort to go back to square one, it requires so much mental strength to do that so to see someone do it and be part of it all is an amazing feeling.

2. Who's the player you have the most banter with in training and on game days?

I try to have banter with everyone to be honest, there’s always someone on the table getting a stretch or a strapping or something so I normally just talk nonsense to whoever is there at that time Wheats and Tommo are normally the first to arrive so if I had to pick a player for the most it would be out of those two. Out of everyone it will probably be Kit man Gaz and Jim the keeper coach, which mainly involves talking about what to eat at pre match food club and winding Mark the strength and conditioning coach up ha ha.

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From Mr Q

Do you think the quality of the KFC gravy is not as good as it was a few years ago ?

Hands down the most important question I’ve ever been asked ha ha. I do…but I’ve been given inside info to sort it. I once had a patient who worked there, so of course she became my favourite patient ever when I found out. She told me to ask for ‘2 step gravy’ when you order it, that’s the tasty thick gravy that’s made properly and not the runny watery stuff. Info like that made all these years studying to be a physio worthwhile, so next time you go, ask for 2 step gravy…..thank me later.

 And secondly which is your favourite away ground and why ?

I like Chester’s ground, it has a ‘proper’ football ground feel although we always put a bad performance in there so I can’t pick that, Hereford’s ground is nice to go to if it wasn’t so far away, something like that would be perfect for us. 

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You are notorious for your coach snacks on the way to away games and for the fact that fans often shower you with Haribo and bags of Skittles during games.  If you were to narrow it down to your top three snacks, what would they be?

Oooo for away day snacks I’d have to go;

1 - pistachios (they always go down well with Daz and the gaffer)

2 - fruit pastilles (a champion of any travelling sweet)

3 - Krispy kreme hazelnut doughnut (Gaz brought doughnuts into training on his birthday and it totally changed my outlook on doughnut snacks when I had 1 of those)

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From James Wise, Leyburn.

Hi Danny, what made you want to become a physio? And what’s your dream club to work for ?

Hi James

I’ve always been interested in the medically related things and love football so being a football physio was a dream fit really. Dream club would be a champions league team I think, preferably one from a country that’s warm ha ha.

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From John Vickerman

Danny what career advice were you given at school- was it to become  a physio ?

Absolutely not, my career advisor told me to join the RAF as a jet mechanic ha ha. Imagine that!!! After I left school I did a steel erecting apprenticeship and worked in construction for a few years, it was good money but you're away all the time and it wasn’t really for me, so after a lot of research and thinking I quit everything and went to uni to become a physio, it was a terrifying decision but the best one I’ve ever made.

If not a physio, what career would you have followed ?

Jacamo underwear model ‘kisses biceps’ ha ha unless they deemed me far too sexy to be advertised during the day in which case I’d probably be a paramedic, it was a close decision between that and Physiotherapy but the sporting element of physio was too much of a draw for me.

What changes have you had to make with baby Danny ? 

Not many surprisingly, he’s been no problem at all and sleeps all night (I can hear mothers all over the place reading this and cursing me with envy) and so far it’s been manageable to continue as I have been. I’m really lucky to have a Mrs who allows me to do what I do (brownie point alert) as it’s hard for her some days when I leave the house at 7.30am and don’t get in till 9.30pm, for that I’m so thankful because I love every second of what I do. I do try to keep Sundays free to let Kirsty have a sleep in and I have the day with Rory though so as long as I get that I’m happy.

It’s a serious business these days as physio, it’s more paramedic now than ‘ magic sponge ‘- how do you stay up to date ?

Courses, courses and more courses, I’ve recently just finished the RFU level 3 emergency medic course which involves things like cutting people airways open so they can breathe and giving adrenaline shots to the heart, very gruesome stuff but also amazing. With the level of football we are playing in at this moment in time means we are not legally obliged to have paramedics on site, also they cost a fortune which is an expense that a club like us can do without. So with me keeping up to date with course like that means we are in a better position to help should something catastrophic go wrong, hopefully I’ll never be needed for that though .

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We’d like to thank Danny for answering so many questions, and hopefully we’ll see him in the flesh at a game soon!

Stand by for another netcafe in a couple of weeks' time!

In the meantime, don't forget about Boost the Budget and Saturday's 2011 Trophy replay.

https://fundraising.darlingtonfcsupportersgroup.org/pitches/boost-the-budget-20-21.

It would be great to pass £75k before the Trophy replay.