Our club is committed to helping and working together with our community, that
includes surrounding universities. Since the start of the season, Belper have
welcomed two students into the club to work in different departments and help
Green Army grow and develop.
Alex Burton (author of this article) has joined the club staff doing media
contribution and Katarina Vargová has joined the players and coaches as a Sports
Therapist. Over the last few months, we have followed Katarina's involvement
since the start of the season and what tasks & responsibilities she has as a
Student Sports Therapist.
This article is brought to you by MJ Robinson Structures, official sponsor of
Katarina. MJ Robinson Structures carry out the design, detailing, fabrication &
erection of high-quality structural steelwork, which has established them as one
of the leading steelwork companies in the industry. Based in the East Midlands
but serving clients nationwide & abroad, their name is synonymous with high
quality and competitively priced structures. This has enabled them to become the
steelwork sub-contractor of choice for many of the country’s leading main
contractors.
Katarina is a second-year student at The University of Derby; she joined with the
club at the start of September after she applied through the uni’s employment
scheme. She plays badminton at international level and last year toured all over
Europe, partaking in numerous competitions – an impressive accomplishment for
a 19-year-old. She also hopes to work in a clinic in the future.
Kat’s role at the club involves vitally important responsibilities concerning the
players’ wellbeing and maintenance. She works alongside the coaching staff
during a game, with her own seat in the dugout she is responsible for giving first
aid treatment to injured players. Thankfully she has not been called into action for
any horror injuries yet but may still be needed to help repair opposition players’
reputations after Benjie Robinson has dribbled past them!
Our Sports Therapist also holds duties off the field of play. Kat prepares players
who may have a knock or a strain by administering the appropriate pre-game
massage or muscle exercise. She may also help players prepare for the 90 minutes
by applying the necessary taping and binding that the lads need to stay sharp on
the field. Katarina goes above and beyond in the work she does for us by putting
the knowledge she has learned on her course to good use – giving the players
physical rehab exercises to either prevent injury or to help a player back to 100%
fitness.
Belper United FC is always open to the idea of student work experience at the
club, whilst aiming to make affiliated students a part of the club, rather than just
looking for someone to outsource work to. Our DM’s on Twitter are always open
and we reply to students interested in helping the club without hesitation!
Thanks to MJ Robinson Structures for sponsoring Katarina.
Stay safe folks and see you all after the lockdown!

By Alex Burton