AN ex-Oxford United footballer has swapped one type of pressure for another in his new role as a doctor.

Matthew Willett was a promising defender for the U's youth team, but cut short his dream to follow in the footsteps of dad, Keith, the National Health Service’s (NHS) director of acute care.

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The 26-year-old signed for United aged eight and was training with the first team at 16, but found himself at a crossroads.

He said: “Like thousands of youngsters I would have loved to play professional football, but I had to make a sensible decision.

“Playing for Oxford was my dream, yet there were niggling doubts in my mind about making those gigantic steps up the ladder to be a professional.

“I was always in the physiotherapist’s room, learning how the body works and recovers from the injuries sportsmen suffer.

“I thrived in that environment, communicating with people from all sorts of backgrounds, so that experience at Oxford United really helped me when I became a doctor.

“I never fell out of love with football, but I just asked myself: Is this the way to fulfil my potential

“After much soul-searching I made the decision to study medicine – and it changed my life.”

Oxford Mail:

Mr Willett, who attended Cheney School, Headington, trained under former U's boss Chris Wilder and also enjoyed a spell at Thame United.

But after recently qualifying as a doctor, he is now practising at Reading's Royal Berkshire Hospital.

His father was previously the consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at the John Radcliffe Hospital, but Mr Willett insists this only inspires him.

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He said: “Football and medicine are very dynamic environments and are privileged positions to be in.

“I do think that there are certain parallels between football and a career in medicine.

“I enjoyed the pressure of having to perform on the pitch with Oxford, but medicine is a different type of pressure.

“As a newly qualified doctor you are thrown in at the deep end, sometimes making life and death decisions.

“Everybody, I think, sees a doctor as a person who saves lives or cures diseases.

“But sometimes it is not about fixing, it is making sure that person is enjoying the best quality of care because not every disease is curable.

“It also about supporting the patients’ family, and that is a very privileged thing for any human being to be involved in.”

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Mr Willett was helped by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), who awarded him a bursary to help fund his six years at medical school in London.

He said: "It was tough living in London, with the cost of living sky high and all I had was a student loan.

“I’d often work long days in hospitals and surgeries and many hours in the classroom.

“So, when the players’ union provided me with some financial it was an incredible boost at a crucial time.

“The Professional Footballers’ Association played a major role in ensuring that I got through my course to qualify as a doctor and I’ll always be grateful to them.”

The 26-year-old now wants to be a surgeon, which would mean another six years of exams.

He added: “But I’ll also get the opportunity to work at John Radcliffe Hospital in 2020, so I’m really looking forward to going home to Oxford to work at the hospital where my father spent many happy years.”