Pfa Members Offered St George’s Park Facilities

Perform, part of Spire Healthcare, and the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) have announced a new deal that will see the facility provide the residential rehabilitation services of Perform at St. George’s Park to PFA members.  

An initial three-year deal has been agreed which will allow around 900 PFA members to receive rehabilitation during this period. 

The scheme is due to start this month and will be in addition to the service provided at Lilleshall for the past 17 years.   

John Bramhall, deputy chief executive, PFA said: ‘With St George’s Park being the base for the 24 England teams, and the home of football education, it seemed the natural choice to offer rehabilitation for our members at the state of the art Perform at St. George’s Park facility.’

‘We have been delighted with the provision of rehabilitation at Lilleshall over the past 17 years, and we are confident that Perform at St. George’s Park can enhance the high standard of service to our members.’ 

The scheme will be overseen by Dr Charlotte Cowie, clinical director at Perform at St. George’s Park, who has led the medical departments at both Fulham and Tottenham FC.  

Steve Kemp, the elite football physiotherapist at Perform at St. George’s Park will lead the rehabilitation for all players attending the facility. Steve currently works with all of the 24 England teams when they are at St. George’s Park and travels with the men’s senior squad. He has also over 12 years’ experience in professional football, working at Wolves, Leeds, Preston and overseas in South Korea. 

Commenting on the announcement, Kemp added: ‘We are delighted to be providing this service for the PFA.  With arguably one of the best facilities in the world it will be a pleasure to rehabilitate professional players from all levels at such an inspiring venue.’

All players will spend four days of intensive rehabilitation from a team including physiotherapists, doctors, sport scientists, strength and conditioning specialists, yoga teachers and soft tissue therapists all based on-site – and will stay at the Hilton hotel in the facility.  

The intensive rehabilitation is to assist clubs in the management of a player’s injury. It offers the players a period of time to focus on their injury away from the distractions at their club, with the aim of providing objective feedback to the club on the player’s progress to assist in their long-term management. 

The service is also available to assist PFA members, current and former, who become injured when out of contract and support them in regaining full fitness and finding a new club.