History for Big Pete 65

It's good that National Radio took Chris' revelations and the International Players' Union study seriously without sensationalizing things as other media outlets may have done. After all, one aspect was the guy was confessing to taking drugs before All Whites matches.

I think it bodes well also that NZ Football didn't brush off National Radio's approach for a response but got All Whites doctor Mark Fulcher to front up - after all he's the person in the organization best qualified to talk about players' mental health issues and substance abuse.

The amateurism (in the sense of incompetence) of NZ football management in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's (even while embarking on professionalism with the Football Kingz) is brought home by Jackson's experiences such as lack of career guidance as a teenage player (received no advice after returning from an unsuccessful trial in England), being brushed off with just something like "that's tough" from the assistant coach at the Football Kingz and still being expected to play after telling management his dad had just died, being told by the Kingz not to take other employment for 18 months while the league was re-launched because they would want to re-sign him and then being told by the new manager when the Kingz folded and the Knights took over thathe wasn't wanted (and being paid the minimum wage anyway), and having his international career terminated by a couple of sentences in an email with no further communication.

I thought current All Whites doctor Fulcher handled the response well - no defensiveness which is what you usually get when organizations are criticized, took all the criticisms on board and I thought he displayed genuine empathy and seemed a decent bloke and competent professional.

Seems there has been some improvement in handling players' welfare from the national body (Fulcher said it was his impression things had improved since 15 years ago) and in communication with players. For example, Fulcher undertakes an annual screening of All Whites (age group players are also screened from u-17 level) for mental health, alcohol and drug problems. Listening to what Chris Jackson had to say about his problems starting age 15, Fulcher responded they may have to look at screening from schoolboy level. (Screening consists of players being questioned about any problems and remedial action being suggested). 

Fulcher is also sensitive to the difficulties he's become aware of for many of our overseas players playing for smaller clubs on low wages in countries where they don't speak the language and the standard of care isn't so good compared to say big EPL clubs.

All adds to the over-all impression I already had that Mark Fulcher is a competent guy NZ Football should hang on to.

I like it that although he said as team doctor, he's not qualified to talk of management issues, even then he said he thought it "wasn't very good at all" the way Chris Jackson was told via a terse email he was no longer required by the All Whites.

There was some discussion of a comparison with NZ Rugby which has the advantage of contracting the All Blacks and thus being able to provide all their medical and psychological supervision. NZ Football of course doesn't contract any international players and so Dr Fulcher only has direct involvement when they are in camp a few times a year. Day-to-day care is left to clubs - with varied results (implied this - especially on the psychological side).

Dr Fulcher backs the idea put to him of a survey by NZ Football of retired players.

Strikes me that former All White and Oxford United pro Dr Ceri Evans, one of NZ's top psychiatrists (formerly on Oxford University staff) and currently Clinical Director Forensic Psychiatry Canterbury District Health Board would be a useful man to have around...