The Hampden National Stadium Sports Health and Injury Clinic in Glasgow was formally opened by Sir Alex Ferguson today (Thursday, March 20, 2003).

The Clinic celebrated its official opening almost a year to the day when it first began offering the very best in sports medicine treatment and facilities to the public seven days a week.

The Clinic is a charitable Trust whose members are the Scottish Football Association, University of Glasgow, Strathclyde University, and Glasgow Caledonian University.

The partnership with the three Universities means that the Clinic is more than just the provision of an injury service but acts as a focus for research and educational activity within Sport and Exercise medicine. Stewart Hillis, Professor of Cardiovascular and Exercise Medicine at the University of Glasgow is playing a key role in the development of the Centre.

It employs six full-time and five sessional staff and over 5000 patients have received treatment in its first 12 months.

While well known names from the world of sport ﾖ from UK athletics star Lee McConnell to World Cup referee Hugh Dallas ﾖ have used the facilities there, the vast majority of clients to the Clinic have been non-elite sportsmen and women - those who exercise for fun and for health and fitness

And although it is based at the home of Scottish football, the Clinic is multi-sport. It estimated that they have seen athletes from twenty different sports, plus it has specialised equipment and access for disability athletes.

Sir Alex Ferguson returned to his native Glasgow and the home of his first senior football club, Queen's Park, to mark the formal opening and the Manchester United manager was full of praise for the level of expertise and standard of equipment available at the Clinic.

"I think this Clinic is a marvellous addition to the sporting facilities of the whole region," said Sir Alex. "It is a credit to Hampden and Glasgow and it is good to hear that so many sportsmen and women of all abilities have benefited from what is here."

Dr. John MacLean, the Clinic's Medical Director and formerly clinical lecturer in Sports Medicine at Glasgow University, is delighted at the progress made in the past 12 months. "I think we have surpassed our most optimistic expectations, "said Dr. MacLean.

"We have had a huge cross-section of different people in for treatment and a large proportion of our new business comes from recommendations from patients who have been here and appreciated the expertise that they have received. That is enormously satisfying."

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First published: 22 March 2003