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Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) Sports Therapy Lecturer Neal Reynolds was recently contacted by Peter Lion and Kurt Lisle, both physiotherapists for the men’s Australian Soccer team (also known as the Socceroos) to treat one of their players, Mitch Duke, during his stay in England over the recent Christmas break.

Mitch, who is a currently playing in Japan with FC Machida Zelvia, finished an extremely successful season in November 2023, which saw his team achieve promotion to the J1 (Japan’s top league in professional soccer). The Tokyo-based outfit finished their season with 87 points, finishing in the coveted Number 1 spot. 

In preparation for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2023 (to be held in January and February 2024), Mitch wanted to maintain fitness in Japan’s off-season and stay in contention for selection as part of the Socceroos team. After an extremely successful season, netting himself 10 goals in 34 appearances, the Aussie striker arranged to train with a London based Championship team alongside their professional squad, so he could maintain fitness and be ready for the upcoming tournament.

To support Mitch whilst in the UK, the Australian Medical team wanted to ensure that Mitch’s therapy needs were covered. As such the highly experienced Neal Reynolds was recommended to be his point of contact in the UK. Conveniently located in High Wycombe, Neal, who enlisted the help of fellow BNU Sports Therapy Lecturer and experienced practitioner Nick Castle, was close enough for Mitch to access whilst training in West London. The duo co-ordinated and delivered the therapy and soft tissue requirements at BNU’s Sports Therapy and Injury Clinic to assist in Mitch’s recovery and injury prevention. 

Kurt Lisle, Australia’s Head Physiotherapist, said that Mitch returned “in the best condition he has been in for a while”.

Both Neal and Nick have an extensive history of working in professional football at the highest domestic and international level, Neal as a Physiotherapist and Nick as an Osteopath, with combined experience of over 30 years and both now working at the university. Commenting on his work at BNU, Neal said:

“I feel passionate about relaying some of these elite level real-life experiences in my teaching on the Sports Therapy programme at BNU. As part of the course, students have access to the Sports Therapy and Injury Clinic which provides students with valuable supervised placement experiences where they have ample opportunity to assess, diagnose and treat real-life patients. I truly believe that this enhances the learning for the students.”

Following Mitch’s treatment at the university, on 22 December he was selected as part of Graham Arnold’s 26-player squad and will be fit and ready to compete in Qatar. As of January, Mitch has joined up with his team-mates in Abu Dhabi where training begins ahead of the team’s first game against India on 13 January 2024. The opening game of the tournament is on 12 January 2024, where host nation Qatar take on Lebanon.