Post by Albion on Nov 3, 2010 16:57:31 GMT 1
Cwmbran Town AFC are set to ban their players from wearing blades on football boots as of January 1st 2011.
This is unprecedented step has been put in place by the club after numerous injuries last season and also so far this season.
"Last season was one of the worst I have known for injuries. We discovered towards the end of last season that blades were contributing a lot towards these injuries, therefore it's only logical to cut the blades out" states club Physiotherapist Matthew Farrell.
Matthew who also works with Newport County Academy and the Welsh Schoolboys International squad explains why blades have been banned. "The banning of blades will not only protect our club players more but also opposing players. It will protect our players as with a stud there is a smaller surface in the pitch meaning boots do not get stuck in the pitch as much so there will be less ankle and knee injuries. To opposing players it means that if a tackle is made and the boot catches a player accidently only the stud harms the player. The stud is a single impact whereas one single blade hits the players at three separate places, theoretically causing more damage and the likely hood of more serious injury. Recent research has shown that blade lacerations take longer to heal and also more metatarsals fractures are occurring because of blades colliding with an opposing players boots. Banning blades we believe could cut serious injuries that we have experienced as a club in half".
We have not made this decision based solely on our experience as a football club, many other clubs and international squads have banned blades, the most notable being Manchester United.
We will be urging all other Welsh Football League clubs to think about their footwear policies and the responsibility that they have to protect club players from serious injuries. These players who rely on their day time job as their only source of income, missing 6 weeks of work due to wearing blades or a challenge from an opposing player is a massive blow. The bottom line of this decision is that we are looking out for our players.
This is unprecedented step has been put in place by the club after numerous injuries last season and also so far this season.
"Last season was one of the worst I have known for injuries. We discovered towards the end of last season that blades were contributing a lot towards these injuries, therefore it's only logical to cut the blades out" states club Physiotherapist Matthew Farrell.
Matthew who also works with Newport County Academy and the Welsh Schoolboys International squad explains why blades have been banned. "The banning of blades will not only protect our club players more but also opposing players. It will protect our players as with a stud there is a smaller surface in the pitch meaning boots do not get stuck in the pitch as much so there will be less ankle and knee injuries. To opposing players it means that if a tackle is made and the boot catches a player accidently only the stud harms the player. The stud is a single impact whereas one single blade hits the players at three separate places, theoretically causing more damage and the likely hood of more serious injury. Recent research has shown that blade lacerations take longer to heal and also more metatarsals fractures are occurring because of blades colliding with an opposing players boots. Banning blades we believe could cut serious injuries that we have experienced as a club in half".
We have not made this decision based solely on our experience as a football club, many other clubs and international squads have banned blades, the most notable being Manchester United.
We will be urging all other Welsh Football League clubs to think about their footwear policies and the responsibility that they have to protect club players from serious injuries. These players who rely on their day time job as their only source of income, missing 6 weeks of work due to wearing blades or a challenge from an opposing player is a massive blow. The bottom line of this decision is that we are looking out for our players.