DERBY COUNTY LEGEND Emily Jeffery recently announced her retirement from the rigours of life as a footballer for the Club, following a serious Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear suffered during the home match against Fylde on the 19th March 2017, in which Derby ran out 5-0 victors.
Such a bitter sweet day that began so well, ended with Jeffo landing quite innocuously following a straight forward header challenge in front of the main stand at Mickleover Sports Ground during the 41st minute of the match. This was followed by an immediate dramatic collapse of the right knee, leaving Derby's main-stay Centre Back reeling in absolute agony. The game was immediately halted and to Fylde's credit their physio team immediately ran to her aid to administer all the help and assistance they could. Jeffo was helped off at half time following lengthy treatment on the pitch. I recall her bravery shown throughout, but knew deep down that it was an extreme injury, having experienced something similar in a past life myself many years earlier. So it was to prove, and that was the last play the fans ever witnessed of the Club's most dependable rock in defence they had ever had.
You may be forgiven for thinking that Emily, who had given no less than 14 seasons continuous service to the cause, from Academy to First team, could be moping around feeling lost and somewhat sorry for herself: think again.
Almost a year ago Jeffo underwent surgery on the ACL. Subsequently she did all she could to keep fit, by undertaking the full programme of exercise and rehabilition. Following many months of assessment, and agonising over her future, Jeffo finally took the decision to call it a day and hung-up her beloved boots that served her so well. Fortunately for Jeffo though, she's one of these people who are extremely popular, and for good reason. Far from mope about, Emily decided to take on another challenge, and boy what a challenge it was.
There aren't many who would dare to rise to the challenge of a triathlon. There are even fewer who would even think about such a feat following an injury such as an ACL. Then again not everyone has the endeavour and never say die attitude about themselves as this woman does. So while her ex-team mates were preparing for the match of their lives in a Derby County shirt to play a hugely historic game against Nottingham Forest in a league match at Pride Park Stadium last Sunday (9th September 2018), which attracted no less than 2,109 fans, Jeffo was preparing for the race of her life away from Pride Park on the exact same day in the PMA Racing - Derby Triathlon. An event now in its 27th year and one of the largest pool based triathlons in the East Midlands.
An immensely proud Jeffo who finished 247th out of a field of 468, finishing the 37th woman and beating 74 men said: "I bloody did it!!! My first ever Triathlon... completed and I am feeling amazing. Just under a year since my operation and my god it felt good competing again! Hard work, determination and most of all belief can really get you wherever you want to get to!"
It takes a special kind of person to look after themselves in life for so long, especially these days surrounded by technology that offers more or less anything at the touch of a button. For so many it's give-up and gone. For this girl it's get-up and go... and as a certain man called Forest once said: "I just keep runnin!"
Hats off to you Jeffo. Take a 'bloody' bow girl!
Anyone wishing to know more about competing in triathlons and similar events around the East Midlands can do so by contacting PMA Racing online @PMARacing
