A physiotherapist from Harrogate will be heading to Thailand this summer, hoping to help England win the World Cup – again.
Liam Chapman, 40, will be taking a short break from his usual job as the physiotherapy lead at The Duchy Hospital in Harrogate to accompany the England Veterans football team to the 16th Seniors Football World Cup in Bangkok. He said:
“Before joining The Duchy Hospital, I worked at Middlesbrough FC as physio and supported the youth teams. The England Seniors team manager approached me and asked if I wanted to join them in Bangkok. I had worked with some of the players before. It was a wonderful feeling to be approached.”
Liam Chapman (centre) was previously physiotherapist at Middlesbrough FC.
The Seniors World Cup tournament was initially conceived by the Senior Football Association of Thailand as a way to promote the country in the wake of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, and has grown to become an annual event.
Each of the eight teams taking part must have players from different age-groups: three aged 40-44, four aged 45-49, three aged 50+, and a goalkeeper aged 40 or over. They will play a total of five games over six days.
The team includes former Premier League players who are still in good shape, such as Barry Hayles, Deon Burton and Sean Davis, as well as non-league players still playing in their 40s. Newcomers to the squad Jon Challoner and Matt Bodkin are still turning out at Stamford and Chatham, following long careers in both the EFL and the Conference. Another still playing at 45 as player-manager at FC Malpas is former Burnley striker Steve Jones, who along with Ian Cox and Dean West make up a trio of former Clarets favourites in the squad.
England won one of their six titles in 2018.
England has won the cup six times – in 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2023 – and Liam, who used to play football professionally for Hull City FC, believes that 2024 could be added to the roll of honour. He said:
“The standard of football is high, and we’ll be out there for 10 days in total. We have a strong squad, and I am confident we can win.”
England first entered the invitational tournament in 2008 with a team of local players called Harrogate Veterans. It has been so successful that the management of the national team has been taken over by the Football Association, but Liam is keeping our district’s connection with the event alive. He said:
“My family are really excited about the tournament and I look forward to sharing updates with them while I am out there.
“In many ways the tournament is more than just football. Research shows remaining active as we get older is great for our physical and mental health. Hopefully, the tournament inspires more people to look into joining a local team sport!”
In addition to the tournament, the competing teams, which include Scotland, Thailand, Germany, Australia, Iran and the USA, will support the “Football for Kids” programme, where players work with schoolchildren, helping them with coaching and sporting activities. Liam said:
“I am really looking forward to experiencing the culture and having the opportunity to share my love of the game with others. Sport is so important for people’s health and wellbeing.”
The 16th Seniors World Cup will take place in Bangkok from June 3 to 8, 2024.
Read more:
- Grassroots funding awarded to Harrogate football clubs
- Funds raised for Harrogate-based footballer Stuart Gray to be donated to charities
- Leeds United footballer banned from driving after speeding in Harrogate
[the_ad id=”182785″]
