Mick Has His Health Check

We've all seen Mick McCarthy getting ever so slightly excited on the touchline as he guides and cajoles

the Wolves players on a matchday, but the boss's keen interest in health and exercise means he remains as fit as a fiddle.

Mick is one of those managers who takes advantage of the scheme run by the League Managers Association offering regular check-ups at the Wellness International assessment centre in Stockport, so he was perfectly placed to pop in to a new health initiative now up and running at Molineux targeted at men aged between 40 and 74.

The Health Checks Programme, the result of a partnership between Wolves Community Trust and Wolverhampton Primary Care Trust, has been set up to help prevent serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure and kidney disease.

Studies have shown that men are far less likely to use health services as often as they should, which often results in serious problems being left undiagnosed.

It is thought that Molineux is a place which will appeal to men to visit for quick and simple checks of height, weight, and blood pressure, as well as quick blood tests to check glucose and cholesterol levels.

All results are strictly confidential and will be sent over to the individual's GP for use on their private records.

Players David Jones and Matt Jarvis also joined Mick in a visit to see the initiative in action, and it was they that then carried out the tests on the 'gaffer'!

"I'm happy to say I'm in good health but I think everyone should get a health check, it's vital," said Mick.

"And it's great that this facility is being run at Molineux, as football clubs should always do whatever they can to be part of the community.

"Let's face it, there's a few people out there who probably go through it here on a Saturday afternoon so why not come and get a check-up to see if everything is o-k?!"

Wolves Community Operations Manager Will Clowes says of the project: "Men's Health Checks is a fantastic service for our supporters and local community.

"Men can occasionally be guilty of taking their health for granted until there's a problem, so via the Health Checks service, a quick and convenient procedure can be done to help highlight any problems or potential issues for the future.

"This free service is something I'd encourage all men within the age category to take part."

The Health Checks programme is held in the Study Centre located at the back of the Jack Harris Stand and will run on all non-match Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6pm to 9pm and on all non-match Saturday's from 9:30am-12:30pm.

Appointments are booked by contacting Peter McCarter, Health Checks Officer, on (01902) 828384 or by e-mailing petermccarter@wolves.co.uk

And it was Peter who carried out the checks on Mick and the two players.

"Mick is very pro-health checks and he was telling me he has a lot himself to make sure he keeps in good health," said Peter. "It's very important, because health is sometimes taken for granted but at the same time it is also something you can have some control over.

"Very often problems caught early can prevent far more serious problems later such as heart attacks and strokes.

"There's a lot of stress in everyday life whether you're a football manager or work in a supermarket, and the age group of men we have targeted are those who don't utilise health services as much as they should.

"We offer the same kind of service but in more familiar and comfortable surroundings at Molineux, outside of working hours which hopefully gives more men the opportunity to come down."