THE queue for a pre-match masssage has been noticeably longer at Dorchester's Avenue Stadium since physio Geoff Dine acquired another pair of healing hands to help him keep the Magpies players off the injured list.

They belong to student Rachel Hayden who is spending five months with the club's medical team as she works towards her BSc degree in Sports Rehabiliation and Injury Prevention.

And she reckons she's in good hands working with sports therapy degree holder Dine who holds the Football Association International Diploma in Sports Medicine, is a full member of both the Society of Sports Therapists and the FA Medical Society and also acts as an FA tutor and assessor on treatment of injury courses.

"Geoff's one of the best around and I'm sure I'll learn a lot from him," said Rachel who is on a placement from Middlesex University.

"I've already done a stint at an injuries clinic and I'm due to complete 200 hours with Dorchester so I'll probably be around until Christmas.

"So far it's been good experience with a lot of massages, injury assessment and ultra sound treatments and the players have all been very nice to me," added Rachel whose ambition is to work full-time with a league club when she finishes her degree.

"I'll probably take a step back when I complete my degree and look at the nutritional side and complementary therapies - but I want to end up doing something in football."

Avid Reading FC fan Rachel lives at Newbury and it was the Royals friendly against the Magpies a couple of season ago which began her link with Dorchester.

"I came down with some friends and we got chatting to some Dorchester supporters in the club house afterwards," she explained. "We all became good mates and since then we have been to see each other's team in action several times.

"When I was looking for a placement at a club I gave my CV to Rob Hodder, one of the Dorchester supporters, and he passed it on to club chairman Eddie Belt, who agreed to help which was really great."

The only drawback for Rachel is that her commitment with the Magpies has limited her use of the season ticket at the Madejski Stadium.

"A friend is using it on most match-days at the moment - but I'll be back there after Christmas and hopefully cheering us on to the Premiership.

* Entry forms are out for Dorchester FC's Crystal Ball competition which is offering a £100 first prize. The competition gives fans the chance to test their clairvoyant skills by predicting things such as Football League promotions and relegations, the first Premiership manager to lose his job after October 31 and which teams will contest the Cup Final.

Kieron Womble, 11, from Weymouth won last season's competition. Entry forms can be obtained from Keith Kellaway at the Avenue Stadium.