Premier league manager bans golfing before matches: proof golf is a sport and soccer kills brain cells

I stumbled upon this story today from The Mirror: Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is banning golf 48 hours before his team’s premier league soccer matches.

“It is not a day off, it is about recovery,” explained McLeish, who attended the 2010 Ryder Cup Matches at Celtic Manor and came up with the new rule as a result. “Golfing so close to a football match, it stands to reason it is going to take it out of your legs. If you are marching around a golf course then it is quite demanding to go play a game of football 24 or 48 hours later.”

Proof that headers really do destroy brain cells, McLeish also likened recovery time from a round of golf to a hangover.

“It is so intensive a league, rest is important and days off are also not about going out and getting pissed and sleeping the hangover off.”

Maybe the next time a world class soccer player falls over, it’s not diving but from climbing out of a giant bunker the day before. Or maybe, it’s finally time for more UK golf courses to get carts - so pro soccer players won’t get so tired.

Grant Fuhr, Hall of Fame NHL goalie for the Edmonton Oilers and golf addict, used to play 18 holes the day of Stanley Cup Finals games. Personally, I’m walking 18 holes tomorrow morning and am playing goal in an ice hockey game at night, though the stakes aren’t exactly as high as the Stanley Cup - and I should have enough time for an afternoon siesta like any finely-tuned athlete.