Ex-Tranmere Rovers centre-forward Chris Malkin has bought a new premises in Wirral for his growing physiotherapy business.
Chris Malkin Physiotherapy specialises in sports injuries, sports rehabilitation, return to sport and the prevention of injuries, and it is hoped the new unit in Pensby will also attract other health businesses to relocate there.
Mr Malkin scored 60 goals during his time at Tranmere, also playing for other North West clubs including Blackpool and Chester City, and now runs the business with wife Sharon.
The pair said the long-term vision is to grow the business and establish a "one-stop shop" for health offering rooms to rent for small local businesses.
It was founded in 2014, and Mr Malkin said: "We are passionate about making sure patients receive the best possible treatment and we’ve been looking to fulfil our ambition for some time now. We were so excited when these premises became available and delighted that Barclays has seen the potential in our business plan to provide the funding required.
"Our hope is the additional space will attract other local health businesses and we can all trade under one roof offering a one-stop-shop for patients.”
Mr Malkin has a local, sporting background having been educated at St Anselm’s College, Birkenhead and playing football for Rovers.
Having attained a first class honours degree at Salford University in 2002, he completed his rotations working in the neurology rehab department at Ellesmere Port Cottage Hospital.
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He returned to football as head academy physiotherapist at Nottingham Forest, followed by five years working with the young players at Aston Villa. In 2009, he returned to the Wirral to take up a post as physiotherapy clinical lead at Spire, Murrayfield Hospital.
Since then, Mr Malkin has combined his clinical role with managerial roles in the radiology and physiotherapy departments and completed a Masters Degree in Sport and Exercise Physiotherapy at Cardiff University.
The purchase was completed with help from Barclays, and Ana Rowlands, relationship manager, said: “I am delighted that I have been able to help Chris and Sharon reach their long-term ambition to purchase their own commercial premises.
"With their own asset and additional space, they are now in a position to grow and diversify their business going forward in line with their business plan and I can’t wait to support them in the future and see their business grow.”