Reds’ Star Launches £1.5m Foot Care Partnership

Salford City Reds centre, Willie Talau joined Lancashire County Cricket Club top-order batsman, Mal Loye yesterday to launch a £1.5m partnership between the University of Salford and global foot company Scholl – a deal set to create world-class foot care solutions.

The sportsmen demonstrated the University’s cutting-edge podiatry research to highlight its three-year research and innovation partnership with Scholl – which is owned by Manchester-based healthcare company SSL International.

Utilising the community partnership with the Reds, the player demonstrated the University’s biomechanical foot pressure analysis technology, utilising the state -of –the- art human performance labs available to the Reds first team, in the relocation of their training base to the University campus.

The foot-themed event officially launched the collaboration – called Feet Matter – which will enable the University to work towards its goal of being the world’s number one foot health and well-being education and research centre.

Feet Matter will include numerous key areas of partnership, including knowledge investment, research and innovation, and new product development – all with a potential global impact on foot health.

Following a donation by SSL, the project will include a team from the University’s School of Health Care Professions working with foot health specialists at Sri Ramachandra Clinic in Chennai to improve foot health care assessment and treatment.

Head of the School of Health Care Professions, Professor Sue Braid said: “It was fantastic to welcome Mal and Willie to the University and I am extremely proud that we have been able to secure this prestigious partnership with SSL.

“The benefits for both partners will be evident at local, national and international levels.  Through our collaboration on this initiative in India, we hope to raise awareness of problems relating to foot health, and improve education and specialist training in that area.”

Martyn Ward, Managing Director of SSL International, added: “We look forward to cutting edge research, evaluation and innovation that will only further strengthen Scholl’s standing as the number one foot health and wellbeing specialist in the world.”

Robbie Ready For Landmark Appearance

Salford City Reds’ Robbie Paul is set to make a an incredible 400th appearance in British Rugby League at Murrayfield against Harlequins on Saturday after recovering from a neck and shoulder injury sustained in last week’s game against Hull FC.

Robbie is in his second season at The Willows and his 399 appearances include 62 as a substitute. He has scored 178 tries plus three goals for a total of 718 points.

Meanwhile Ian Sibbit and Mark Henry return to Shaun McRae’s 19-man squad and Karl Fitzpatrick and Andrew Thornley drop out. Jeremy Smith was rated extremely doubtful earlier in the week but makes the 19 after responding well to treatment.

Last week’s two-try hero Darrell Goulding will continue in the three-quarters and Mark Henry will be hoping for an extended run in the team after a spell in and out with niggling injuries.

Willie Talau’s rehab is almost complete and he could well return a week later in the Challenge Cup against Batley but the Reds will not rush him back into action.

Robbie last played at Murrayfield when he captained Bradford to a 24-18 victory over Leeds in the 2000 Challenge Cup Final.

Reds 19 Man Squad to face Harlequins at Murrayfield: Wilshere, Goulding, Henry, Smith, Myler, Sibbit, Cashmere, Alker, Stapleton, Parker, Swain, Turner, Littler, Leuluai, Paul, Ratchford, Adamson, Jewitt, Sidlow

Super League meetings summary

Salford won 11
Harlequins won 13
Draws 2
Salford highest score: Won 42-26 (H) … 2000
Harlequins highest score: Won 50-12 (A) … 2001

Reds’ Rugby Camp A Success

Salford City Reds first team players took time out from their busy training schedule to spend time with local school children on a rugby camp based at the Willows. Hosted by Salford City Reds Foundation in conjunction Read more

Reds Welcome Supporter Reporters

Salford City Reds welcomed Young Radiowaves Reporters from Trafford to The Willows on Saturday night as Salford City Reds took on Hull FC in the weekend Super League fixture. Read more

Lucky Lottery Winners (29/4/09)

Now’s the time to find out if you are one of this week’s big winners on the Reds’ Golden Bond lottery. Each week you could win up to £10000 for a single £1 stake…think of how you could spend that money this Spring. Read more

April Stadium Update

In January Salford City Reds gave details of a partnership with the newly formed Salford City College – an amalgamation of the Further Education colleges within the city. The new College is looking to reassess its facilities and the stadium site was identified as their main priority.

Issues have since arisen nationally with the capital funding provided by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and these issues are currently being worked through with the LSC as a matter of high priority. Currently the LSC are reassessing the national projects that they can deliver and the criteria on which the funding can be released
The Reds, Salford City College and stadium developer, Peel Holdings are of the opinion that the development and capital funding for Salford City College will prove to be very high on the agenda once this assessment been finalised.

Salford City Reds are working very closely with all of our partners to ensure that the Club are able to continue the development within our timeframes.

Reds: CEO David Tarry said: “The Stadium will happen and if, ultimately, the college are unable to take advantage of that opportunity, then we still have our Main Partners – the City of Salford, who remain totally committed to the scheme, and Peel Holdings – one of the leading developers in the country, along with a landmark site that already has Planning Permission for stadium and retail use and we look forward to introducing Super League to the whole Manchester region.”

McRae’s Ready For Elite Magic Event

Salford City Reds Head Coach Shaun McRae is looking forward to his side’s trip to Murrayfield this weekend when the Reds will take on Harlequins in the opening fixture of the event.

“It’s going to be a fantastic event for the supporters who make a weekend of it. The event is very well priced and, in my opinion, the draw for the fixtures is a lot fairer this year now it is not just derby games.

“It’s a great chance to put all our elite athletes into one stadium and showcase them to everybody else at the same time”, said McRae.

It’s a great chance to put all our elite athletes into one stadium and showcase them to everybody else

Reds’ star Robbie Paul looks likely to miss out on returning to Murrayfield through an injury picked up at the weekend against Hull FC but still fondly remembers his last appearance in Edinburgh in 2000:

“Murrayfield has to be one of the top contemporary stadiums to play at in the world. I’d place it up there in the top four alongside the likes of Wembley and Old Trafford without a doubt.

I’ve played the game the world over and there is an atmosphere that you can almost taste when you play there, the boys are going to love it. When I played there for the Bulls in 2000 it was an amazing experience and one I’ll never, ever forget.”

Geek Time – All The Stats From Round 11

It’s that time already and the stats have all been counted up and fed into the graphical wonder computer here at GeekHQ. There were some huge attacking and defensive performances this week and we even have a new leader on the Top Tackler chart.

Ray Cashmere continues to rip up the metres and we should have another two players joining him past the 1km mark next week in Edinburgh.

As ever after each game we update the stats for kicking, ball-carrying and tackling, not to mention individual game-specific stats direct from the field of play.

From Geeky’s page (accessible from the INFO section of the menubar or from the links on the right hand side of most pages) you can now access stats on each game played so far, as well as match reports and video highlights from the games so if you want to re-live the fantastic treble of Hull FC, Warrington and Leeds Rhinos then head over there and check out the highlights.

All games for the season now have video highlights and OPTA charts jam-packed full of data (latest video highlights, for example Hull FC will appear each Wednesday) so if you missed anything, or just want to re-live a particular moment, then you know where to click.

See you next week with more stats.

Click HERE for LeagueGeek

It’s Not Magic For Paul

Robbie Paul looks certain to miss the Reds’ trip to Edinburgh for the Magic Weekend after being sent for an X-Ray following the narrow defeat at the hands of Hull FC last Saturday.

Head Coach Shaun McRae said: “Robbie fortunately hasn’t broken anything, but he did suffer a trauma to his shoulder and neck area and would have to be rated as extremely doubtful to play against Harlequins at this stage.”

Jeremy Smith meanwhile was another casualty that limped out of the action and immediately had his knee wrapped in ice, and could be another to miss the journey north.

“Jeremy’s knee is improving and the signs are good, but we are still waiting to see the full extent of the damage. He caught his knee awkwardly in a tackle and again I’d say you’d have to rate him as doubtful to play

“Craig Stapleton also had a minor foot problem but he will be fine and will definitely play at Murrayfield and we will have Ian Sibbit and Mark Henry available while Steve Nash came through the reserves victory well.” McRae concluded.

Season ticket holders are reminded they have until 29 April to claim their half-price tickets for the magic event from the Club Shop on production of the appropriate voucher.

Reds’ Chairman Announced as Honorary Graduate

Salford City Reds Chairman, John Wilkinson OBE is one of eight high-profile figures named by the University of Salford, to receive honorary degrees in the 2009 graduation ceremonies in July.

The longest serving chairman in British Rugby League, John will join distinguished personalities including President and CEO of Asda, Andy Bond and Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Chamber, Angie Robinson, to be made Doctor of Letters in recognition of his services to the local and regional economy.

Awarded an OBE in 2001 for contributions to the city of Salford, John, affectionately known as ‘Mr Salford  continues to push forward with his business plans in the city on both club and personal levels, pursuing what he hopes will be his lasting legacy in the city with the completion of the Reds iconic stadium at Barton in 2010.

Upon hearing the recent announcement, John said:

“To be recognised by my city’s university for such a prestigious honorary degree makes me a very proud man indeed.

“Our university is a fine example of what Salford is capable of achieving and I am delighted to be joining such a distinguished group of people.”

The honorary graduation ceremonies will take place at The Lowry, Salford Quays, from Tuesday 14 July to Friday 17 July.  See below for the full list of Salford University honorary graduates 2009:

Andy Bond, President and CEO of Asda

John Wilkinson OBE, Chair of Salford City Reds

Angie Robinson, Chief Executive of Great Manchester Chamber

Sir Alan Budd, Director, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies

Grant Chapman, Managing Director of Chapman Holmes

Dr Ralph Kohn, Director of Raphael Music Ltd

Peter Hunter OBE, Architect, Hunter Models

Robert Paterson, Co-founder, Community Finance Solutions.

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