His Order of the British Empire has been awarded for his services to Physiotherapy in Sport and to Young People.
Grant has a quarter of a century of experience working in professional football and joined City from Middlesbrough in September 2011.
“It’s very touching, very humbling – it’s one of those things you just don’t believe and takes time to process,” he said upon receiving news of the OBE.
“I knew nothing about it until I got an official letter through the post from the cabinet explaining that I was to be recognised on the Honours list with The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
“I was reading it, thinking, ‘is this real?’”
“My philosophy has always been the same – that every patient is as important as the next – it’s not just about the big stars, it’s about developing great people as well as great sportsmen.”
...Grant Downie...
Previous to his eight-year spell at Middlesbrough, Grant spent eight years as Head Physiotherapist at Rangers where he worked alongside Walter Smith and Dick Advocaat.
“The biggest thing I want to express is that I have met so many incredible people on this journey - so much of the work that I do as a physio is management of people - good people and good managers of people like Dick and Walter at Rangers have influenced me,” he stressed.
“I made a career choice last year after working for 25 years in senior football that I wanted to work with young people and I saw the opportunity to come to City and work with 6-21-year olds, to help them develop both medically and as people.
“It’s a tremendous privilege and a huge honour to be working at this club at this exciting stage in its history and I hope that my experience will help us along in our journey - but at the same time, I’m still here to learn like everyone else too.”
Brian Marwood, Managing Director of City Football Academy said: “We are proud to hear that Grant’s work has been recognised with this OBE.
“He is one of the leading sports medicine experts working in the game, and we were delighted to be able to recruit him at Manchester City, when he joined us from Middlesbrough two years ago.
...Brian Marwood...
“Everyone at the Club wishes to congratulate Grant on his OBE.”
