Football club pays tribute to 'brilliant physio'

A football club has paid tribute to its "brilliant" former physio who has died aged 71.

Oxford United said John Clinkard had served with "distinction" during his 12 seasons at the club and played "a vital role during a memorable era".

He had joined from Everton in 1988 in order to be closer to home and worked under former managers Denis Smith and Malcolm Crosby, as well as alongside the late U's legend Joey Beauchamp.

Clinkard, who had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer in September 2023, previously told the BBC that his approach to treatment was to "latch onto the positive, don't go for the negative".

In a statement, Oxford United said: "A brilliant physio and an even better character, John was a natural storyteller who brought warmth, humour and humanity to the dressing room.

"He built lasting relationships throughout the club, none stronger than with the squad that achieved promotion in 1996.

"He will be fondly remembered and greatly missed."

In an interview with BBC Radio Oxford, club legend and first-ever club ambassador Peter Rhoades-Brown previously recalled how Clinkard had looked after him during "a potential career-ending injury".

"Mental health wasn't a thing in those days but I can tell you now that without John's support and the positivity that he got across to us players, I would have struggled," Rhoades-Brown said.

Clinkard's granddaughter Lola took part in a swimathon and raised money for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie after his diagnosis.

She had spoken about how he was "very special" and "the best grandad in the world".

At the time, Clinkard said the charity fundraising had been done "as a complete surprise" to him.

"I've always been positive," he had told BBC Radio Oxford.

"As a physio, your whole approach to treating people is: latch onto the positive, don't go for the negative.

"Because if [your client or player] are not in a positive place, we're not going to go anywhere. It's like pushing an elephant up the stairs if they're negative."

Everton also said it was "deeply saddened" by the death of their former physio.

A club statement said: "John served the club during the halcyon days of the mid-1980s and was an immensely popular figure as the team won two league titles, an FA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup.

"Known affectionately as 'Magnum' because of his similarity to the TV detective, John later worked for Oxford United and Wimbledon.

"He died, aged 71, following a brave battle with cancer."

You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.