19617 RGS ONA Issue 106.qxp_Layout 1 03/10/2019 17:55 Page 26
WORKING IN SP ORT BY JOHN PAPADOPOULOS (98-08)
Whilst studying at RGS, I was a competitive swimmer, for both school and my local team. My main achievements for the school were representing the school in the English Schools’ Swimming Association (ESSA) relay national finals, the John Parry relays (Northern HMC), the Bath Cup and Otter Medley (London) along with my teammates Andrew Barrett (9808), Stephen Addison (01-08), Remus Winn (97-07), and Chris Dixon (99-09).
John (far left), with Team USA Select Basketball team
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I
have always thoroughly enjoyed taking part in competitive sport, the thrill of beating my personal best times making it all the more enjoyable. Even as a spectator, watching others perform to their best was an incentive to train and compete at a higher level (even to push myself with my studies – I always had a competitive drive to attain the highest possible grades). Since leaving RGS, I have graduated with a Masters Degree in Physiotherapy, worked primarily within Newcastle for both the NHS and private sector, including recently starting my own private physiotherapy clinic just off Clayton Road. Outside of my private clinic, I am the First Team Physiotherapist for Blaydon Rugby Club. I work with some of the players who have previously studied at RGS: Alex Clark (98-05), Chidera Obonna (08-19) who plays for both Blaydon and Newcastle Falcons Senior Academy, Tom Penny (03-13) who currently coaches at Blaydon and plays for the Newcastle Falcons. I have also worked with Matt Thompson (91-01) who was formerly the Director of Rugby at Blaydon, and previously played at the Newcastle Falcons. Blaydon are in the fifth division (North Premiership), and are aiming for promotion back into National League 2. Since qualifying, my love for sport enticed me to work alongside many local teams. Starting with a local swimming club, and rugby club, to more recently with Northumbria University’s Netball Super League team (the top flight netball league in the UK), to working full time in the
