Netball: Most famous foot in world football might benefit from Nicol's touch

By NICK BROWN

If David Beckham pops in to see Manchester United's medical team for treatment on his famous left foot next month, he could get some healing touches from New Zealand netballer Lesley Nicol.

Nicol, who is a qualified physiotherapist and Otago University medical student, is heading to Manchester's glamorous soccer club for some sports medicine experience after she finishes the Commonwealth Games in the same city.

While a gold medal is Nicol's top priority for her Manchester visit, she is not allowing her medical skills to go rusty: she plans also to help out New Zealand's Commonwealth Games medical team during any spare time.

Wing-defence Nicol, who is the most capped player among this crop of Silver Ferns, with 81 test appearances, is due to graduate as a doctor in December and has chosen stints at Manchester United and in an Egyptian hospital as part of a final-year overseas medical elective.

"Originally for my elective it wasn't part of my plans at all," Nicol said. "But because of the Commonwealth Games being in Manchester, it seemed appropriate [to go to United]."

She chose Egypt because her brother's wife is Egyptian and she can visit her family there and "see a different culture."

The Manchester United opportunity came about through Vodafone, which sponsors the soccer club and the Silver Ferns.

She is not sure what work awaits her at the club.

"I'll be able to experience sports medicine in a different environment to New Zealand. It is a good example to see how things run professionally in a football environment, and what better club to go to?"

She was noncommittal when asked whether she would come into contact with the most written about foot in British sport.

Beckham broke a bone in his left foot a couple of months out from the World Cup, and after much English public consternation about his fitness, he managed to play a key role in the nation's cup campaign.

"I'm not sure, I'm prevented by the Privacy Act from saying anyway," Nicol joked.

Because of commitments to the national provincial netball championship, starting in September, Nicol can spend only two weeks at United and three weeks in Egypt.

But she is not complaining - "that's all part of being in a sport."

When not playing or training at the Games, Nicol said she would be helping out New Zealand team doctor Deb Robinson.

"So I'm doing just a bit of medicine, to keep my hand in rather than having three weeks completely off."

Nicol, who captained New Zealand in 1996-97, made her Silver Fern debut in 1994 at the same time as the incumbent captain, Julie Seymour, but has collected 12 more caps.

As a member of the silver medal-winning team at the Kuala Lumpur Games four years ago, Nicol is determined that the Silver Ferns will better Australia this time.

"We're only going there to win gold. We don't want to come home with silver."

- NZPA