Mackay Clinic backs Stirling footballers

One of the world’s leading sports surgeons, Professor Gordon Mackay, has signed a three year sponsorship deal with the University of Stirling football teams.

Supporting both the men’s and women’s squads, the deal will help fund the University’s renowned football scholarship programme which provides players with high performance training, competition and financial aid, alongside their studies.

Professor Mackay with the University of Stirling Football Club captain Ben Cuff and Stirling University Women's Football Club captain Chloe Logan.

Having risen through the leagues, the University men’s 1^st XI play in the Scottish Lowland Football League, finishing fourth in this year’s competition and securing entry into the Irn Bru Challenge Cup. Meanwhile the women’s 1^st XI currently sit fifth in the Scottish Women’s Premier League and have enjoyed great success this season, winning the BUCS Scottish Championship, promotion to the top British Universities league, the British Universities Trophy as well as the Scottish Student Sport Cup.

Just what the doctor ordered

Having been on the books at Rangers FC, Professor Mackay’s passion for football is well-known and he is keen to see the University of Stirling’s football programme fulfil its potential. He said: “I’ve worked very closely with the University over the years and have always been impressed with their ability to combine high performance sport with education. Having taken time out of my studies as a young doctor to pursue a sporting career, there are a lot of parallels between the two parties and I believe a balance between sport and studying is something that should be encouraged.

“Stirling has always taken a lead in promoting this approach and I like the way it thinks differently, whether that’s around scholarships, establishing partnerships with the likes of the Institute of Sport, or appointing British senior football’s first ever female head coach. All these things, along with the University’s vision, both for football and other sports, makes it all the easier to give my backing.”

Cathy Gallagher, Director of Sport at the University of Stirling, added: “The sponsorship provided by Professor Mackay is hugely significant to the continued development of our football programmes.  We deliver excellence in both men’s and women’s sport, where the education of students on and off the field of play is central to our philosophy, the essence of which is shared by our sponsor.

“Gordon has been a tremendous supporter of the University for many years and the sponsorship reflects his belief in the unrivalled value of sport to the student experience.  As Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, we are delighted to be backed by a world renowned sports surgeon, helping us enshrine standards for our talented student athletes.”

Known for working with some of Scotland’s most prominent sportspeople, Professor Mackay has revolutionised the treatment of serious knee and ankle injuries using his innovative Internal Brace technology which enables athletes to safely return to competitive sport significantly earlier than through conventional surgery.

Based at the Kings Park Hospital in Stirling, Mackay also operates at The Space Clinic in Edinburgh and Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow. He has worked extensively with the Scottish Rugby Union, Rangers and Celtic football clubs and Scotland’s Olympians via his tie-up with Scottish Institute of Sport. He was also the official doctor for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.