The FA will bid farewell to two long-serving members of the England medical team this summer.
Gary Lewin and Dr Ian Beasley will end their association with the Three Lions after the UEFA EURO 2016 tournament having accepted redundancy following a restructure of the St. George’s Park-based medical department. Both are now hopeful that they will be able to stay in football having offered vital support to hundreds of players at a host of major international tournaments and with clubs.
During their time with the national team, the vastly-experienced pair – who are currently inside the senior camp preparing for the start of next month’s finals in France – have tackled various challenges and enjoyed a series of highlights as integral members of the set-up.
Lewin was invited to join the backroom staff on an itinerant basis by then-manager Glenn Hoddle in August 1996 – his first game coinciding with David Beckham’s debut away to Moldova the following month – before going on to join The FA as Head of Physiotherapy Services 12 years later.
Over that period, the former Arsenal physio has worked at five World Cups and three European Championships, soon to be four. That spell has involved eight managers and 225 matches to date.
Aside from England seniors, he worked at the 2011 and 2013 U20 World Cups as well as with Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics. Lewin was also a member of both the Wembley and St. George’s Park Project Planning Groups.
Dr Beasley joined The FA as Head of Medical Services in February 2009, and went on to cover the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, the 2012 European Championship and the 2013 U20 World Cup.
A respected figure who has contributed to a number of medical research publications, he has been Chair of the FA Medical Committee and has been a member of both the UEFA Medical Committee and the St. George’s Park Planning Group.
Dr Beasley is the medical adviser to the Royal Ballet Company, Covent Garden. He also covered two Olympic one Commonwealth Games, and two World Cups with Great Britain Hockey and has held key roles at Leyton Orient, Chelsea, Watford, Fulham, Arsenal and the Olympic Medical Institute.
