Footballers roll up their sleeves to give blood
19th March 2009TeamBath's footballers are used to sweating blood for their team on the pitch - now they've done their bit by rolling up their sleeves and donating blood.
Members of the TeamBath FC squad turned up en masse along with coaches Andy Tillson and Brian Parkin at a one of the regular blood donor sessions held at the University of Bath.
Head coach Tillson said: "You hear a lot about the constant need for blood donors and the lads were keen to help out the next time there was a session at the University.
"Apparently it can be good for you when you give blood because your body then has to generate new blood, so who knows, you might see the difference when we play on Saturday!
"It was handy having sessions at the University as the players could fit it in around training and lectures, so we had a good turnout," he added.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) needs 7000 donations of blood every day to maintain healthy blood stocks and ensure life-saving treatments for patients across the country.
For more information about giving blood please see the website or call 0845 7711 711.
TeamBath FC is now in its ninth season, providing a professionally tailored football training programme linked to flexible education at foundation degree and degree level at the University of Bath.
The team is currently plying its trade in Blue Square South in its first season playing at this level. Although only founded in 2000, TeamBath FC have made the first round proper of the FA Cup on three occasions.
A number of TeamBath players have gone on to land full-time professional contracts with clubs, including Sean Canham (Notts County), Matt Taylor and Neil Saunders (both Exeter City).