HEAR FROM THE PROFESSIONALS

About Rory

Stoke City F.C, UK player Rory Delap, renowned for his long throw-in, has given his support to Back in Play.

Name: Rory Delap

Nationality: Irish

Age: 34

Club: Stoke City F.C, UK

Position: Midfielder

Previous clubs: Carlisle, Sunderland, Southampton, Derby County

• Rory Delap, a midfielder for Stoke City F.C, UK in the English Premier League is renowned for his long throw-in ability.
   
• They often range from 30-40 metres  (98–130 ft) (averaging 38 m (120 ft)), and can reach the speed of 60 km/h (37 mph). The world record is 49.78 m (163 ft).
   
• Everton Manager David Moyes famously referred to Delap as the “Human Sling” whilst Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill previously described his throw-ins as being equivalent to “a corner or free kick”. 
   
• Although English-born, Delap has been capped 11 times for the Republic of Ireland National Football Team. 
   
• Delap uses his shoulders and lower back muscles to give power to his throw.

More information on Delap’s career.

Rory talks about his involvement with the Back in Play campaign. 

About Seoirse Smith, ASIF President
 

Seoirse Smith is the current President of the Ankylosing Spondylitis International Federation (ASIF) and Secretary of the Ankylosing Spondylitis Association of Ireland (ASAI).

Seoirse was diagnosed with AS at the age of 31 but believes his symptoms started some 15 years earlier.  An old football injury was initially pinpointed as the reason for the back pain he experienced as a teenager but it wasn’t until his doctor made a connection between him suffering from an inflammatory eye condition called uveitis and his back and chest pain, that he was eventually diagnosed.

Seoirse's research into his condition, an improved prognosis and his proactive role in managing his AS initially led him to join ASAI before eventually becoming involved in running the association and then the international federation of related associations. 

About Dr Tom Sheeran, Rheumatologist
 

Dr Tom Sheeran is a Consultant Rheumatologist at Cannock Chase Hospital, Staffordshire. He is also Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at Cannock, and Clinical Lead for Research and Development at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.
 

About Professor Désirée van der Heijde, ASAS President

Professor of Rheumatology at the Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands Professor Van der Heijde’s major research interest is patient outcomes assessment. Specific areas of interest are radiographic scoring methods in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), as well as scoring of MRI in AS. She is involved in many of the trials with biologics in RA, PsA and AS.

Van der Heijde also chairs the Assessment in SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS), and is a member of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Standing Committee for Clinical Epidemiology.